By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Mark Nov. 16 on your calendar to welcome back Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre.
Community members, guests, media representatives and local dignitaries are being invited that day to the launch of the 2022 Capitol Theatre season – the theme, of course, being Welcome Back – which will be the first for Artistic Producer Rob Kempson (who was appointed to his position in August).
Be at the Mainstage at 2 p.m. to learn about next year’s programming, followed by a sneak peek of the 25th annual Capitol Christmas a few hours in advance of its opening to the public.
Kempson will also host meet-and-greet receptions at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Sculthorpe Theatre to provide more detail about the season, share his vision for the Capitol’s future and connect with the community.
“After a long time apart, I wanted to gather folks together to talk about the exciting line-up,” Kempson said in the press release.
“And to follow it with the official opening of Capitol Christmas feels like kismet.”
Tickets to these events are free, but must be reserved in advance to ensure a safe experience for all attending.
Make the 25th annual Festival of Lights and Trees part of your holiday season between Nov. 16 and De. 16, complemented by a series of workshops, events, community activities, concerts and something new – Miracle On Queen Street, a spontaneous celebration of comedy, music and joy that plays on the Mainstage from Nov. 30 through Dec. 23.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the 25th anniversary of such a cherished community event, and excited to present a new kind of holiday performance this year with a musical improv show,” Managing Director Erin Peirce added.
“With the same energy, laughs and holiday cheer as our traditional panto, this show offers the chancre for audiences to come back again and again – and they’ll never see the same thing twice.”
Since its inception in 1997 the Festival of Lights and Trees fundraiser has been a community favourite, creating memories and becoming a tradition for guests of all ages. For the safety of the visitors, a socially distanced tree-viewing experience has been created, as well as a virtual slide-show component that allows the ability to enjoy Capitol Christmas and enter the raffle from the comfort of their own homes.
Like the annual Christmas pantos, Miracle On Queen Street offers family and naughty versions. Created by Ron Peterson, it features Rob Baker, Christy Bruce, Jan Caruana, Becky Johnson, Ron Pederson and Sharjil Rasool with Jordan Armstrong as Music Director, Jeff Pybus as Lighting Designer, and Anna Treusch as Set Designer and Costume Co-ordinator. Tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for children aged 12 and under.
For more information, call 905-885-1071 or e-mail info@capitoltheatre.com