Calgary’s Oldest (and Newest) Theatre Just Turned 100!
“Few people appreciate the important part played by places of amusement in the development of a city”
Read the article Canada’s Finest Theatre, written by James W. Davidson and published in The Morning Albertan on Tuesday, February 6th, 1912. The day after the GRAND’s opening night performance!!
Calgary will soon be exceptionally well equipped to satisfy the natural craving for city amusements…and add in no small degree to our prosperity.
One hundred years ago, the city of Calgary still very much a western frontier town, received its first major cultural gift, The Grand Theatre, built by the visionary Calgarian Sir James Lougheed. At The Grand, citizens and visitors of Calgary had an opportunity to come together and experience live performance created in Calgary as well as touring acts from around the world. The Grand was the initial home of many arts organizations in Calgary; the first theatre, opera, ballet, symphony concerts, and movies were seen here. This theatre was the centre of social, cultural, and political life in Calgary until the early 1960s when the Jubilee Auditorium began outshone the theatre in its size and modernity. Slowly the old Grand theatre fell into disrepair and in 1979 it was slated for demolition. The Grand, like so many other historical buildings in Calgary of that era, had ‘come to the end of its economic life.’ But what about its public life? What about its public wealth? The knowledge of a shared past is the cornerstone to building a vital community for the future! In 2004 Theatre Junction set out to answer these very questions.
When Theatre Junction made the bid to save The Grand, the theatre had descended to its lowest point as a ‘cultural’ space- an indoor golf driving range about to become a parkade. With a significant leading donation from Calgary philanthropist Jackie Flanagan and the extraordinary vision of Mark Lawes, Theatre Junction was able to purchase and transform The Grand into one of the leading contemporary theatres in Canada. Theatre Junction GRAND opened in March 2006. Since then, under the artistic direction of Mark Lawes, Theatre Junction GRAND has been creating new work with a company of artists in Calgary, and presenting groundbreaking contemporary performance from across Canada and around the world.
The Grand, in its 100 years, has come full circle; surviving its years as an indoor golf range and movie theatre and escaping it sentence as a parkade, to once again become Calgary’s Culturehouse. Theatre Junction GRAND is proud to once again be exposing Calgarians to inspiring performances, an entire century after presenting to our very first audience. 100 years later, people are continuing to meet at the Grand to exchange ideas, be exposed to new and exciting creations and celebrate culture. Today Theatre Junction GRAND continues to stand as a monument to Calgary’s cultural past, and remains a space for artists to envision the future. This building is a reminder that we have the ability as a society to shape our collective culture and create public wealth for the benefit of the community at large.
100th Anniversary Celebration- February 4th, 2012 -
“Theatre Junction Grand is proud to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of our historic theatre, and we are celebrating in a big way! On February 4th, exactly one century after the very first performance graced our stage, we are throwing a big party worthy of the grandeur of this major milestone! Join us for our 12 hour open house (or at least part of it) from 2pm ’til 2am, featuring over two-dozen artists from across Calgary’s vast cultural landscape.
Some of Calgary’s most popular and respected artists will be performing throughout the event, including Dan Vacon of the Dudes, DJ Pump, Samantha Savage Smith, DJ Wax Romeo, painter Mandy Stobo, DJ Ivan Rankic, Ill Movements hip-hop collective and many more. For the GRAND finale, 2011 Redbull 3styles World Final’s headliner VINYL RITCHIE will be playing an all vinyl DJ set. The event will also feature a Sled Island music festival Showcase, live dance performances, a break-dancing jam, a blues jam, live painting by Mandy Stobo (you may know her from her popular ‘Bad Portraits’), a preview of our next upcoming play, building tours, a Calgary Fashion photo-booth and more!
Attempts on Her Life Sneak Peek Preview at 8:00pm in the Theatre. Directed by our own Artistic Director Mark Lawes, featuring local and national actors, dancers, and musicians. Written by Martin Crimp this production Opens Friday February 17th and runs through to Saturday February 25th.”
…One of the high points of experimental theatre, of any theatre, written in the last quarter-century. -Culture Wars, London
2-4pm Hip Hop & Breakdancing Jam with
Ill Movements
Grim Reminder dance group
4-6pm Blues Jam hosted by Vernon Wills of The Blues Can
6pm- Dan Vacon of The Dudes
7pm Samantha Savage Smith (Arts & Crafts, Sled Island Showcase)
8pm Preview of Attempts on Her Life, directed by Mark Lawes
Speech by Mr. Peter Lougheed
8.15pm The Mountaineer (Sled Island Showcase)
All Night Live Painting by Mandy Stobo (of Bad Portraits)
9pm Ivan Rankic (Homebreakin’ Records)
9.45pm Wax Romeo (Homebreakin’ & Bigfoot Records)
11pm Dj Pump (Eh! Team)
12.30amVinyl Ritchie (Shambhala & 3Styles World Champ’s Headliner)
+ Theatre Tours
Dance Performances
Calgary Fashion Photobooth
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] on her Life, Theatre Tours, Dance Performances, a Calgary Fashion photo-booth and more! Check http://www.TheatreJunction.com/100th-Anniversary for the exact schedule and more details! The whole day is free until 10:30, so come early and help [...]
[...] The celebration is a full day event from 2pm – 2am, featuring some of Calgary’s most respected artists every hour. In addition to a number of musical acts, the event will also feature live dance performances, a preview of an upcoming play, and a photo booth hosted by Calgary Fashion. The event is free before 10:30 pm, and all ages are welcome until 8pm. Read more on Theatre Junction GRAND’s history and 100 year celebration. [...]
[...] more information check out their website here. Share [...]
[...] Get your short shorts on, and start stretching. Check the line up here. http://www.theatrejunction.com/100th-anniversary/ [...]
[...] Savage Smith will be playing the Junction Theater GRAND 100th Anniversary Saturday (Today). She will be on stage 7pm, don’t miss one of Calgary’s best upcoming [...]