Live Bait Theatre had one of its most successful seasons ever in 2009 and aims to do it again in 2010.
Live Bait is getting set to enter its 23rd season on the heels of a rewarding year that saw a huge boost in fundraising dollars as well as a blockbuster show that exceeded all expectations.
The theatre company’s 10-day showing of the hugely-popular Hank Williams: The Show he Never Gave in July was a tremendous success for Live Bait, leading to another five-day run in September as well as a return engagement of the production later this month.
“It was the biggest hit we’ve had in 22 years,” said Karen Valanne, Live Bait’s artistic director, during the company’s annual general meeting last Wednesday evening.
Valanne said the phone rang off the hook last summer for days on end as people called to order tickets for the Hank Williams show. People traveled from all over the Maritimes and farther to attend the dinner theatre performance.
Another major accomplishment of Live Bait this year has been the increased activity of its fundraising committee, said Valanne. In 2009, donations from individuals, corporations and foundations tripled from the previous year.
“This has laid the groundwork for increased fundraising in the future, which is a critical aspect of the company’s survival and growth,” she said.
The upcoming season, which will get under way this month, will feature a new dinner theatre production in July as well as the return of Hank Williams in April, two mainstage shows, a Remembrance Day cabaret, the annual fundraising gala and the time-honoured Christmas Dinner theatre.
The Hooks, Lines and Singers fundraiser will kick off a new season in May following the Hank Williams show later this month.
This summer, follow country singer Patsy Cline’s climb to stardom from her hometown in Virginia to the Grand Ole Opry in Live Bait’s showing of A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Running from mid-to-late July, the dinner theatre show is a tribute to Patsy Cline written by Dean Regan. Valanne said three of the actors from the Hank Williams show will return for this production.
In August, Live Bait will showcase the Atlantic Canadian premiere of Harvest by Ken Cameron. Based on the true story of a couple who nearly lost their savings when a “nice young man” turned their family farm into something not quite legit, Harvest will run for 10 nights.
“This has laid the groundwork for increased fundraising in the future, which is a critical aspect of the company’s survival and growth.” - Karen Valanne
“It’s really funny and a lot of fun,” Valanne said of the new show.
Angel’s River by Andrea Boyd will premiere at Live Bait in October. Set in New Brunswick in 1969, the show is based on a true story in which a young woman faces a difficult decision and the sacrifice that accompanies it.
“The play is so beautifully written. It really captures the poverty, the violence, and the downtrodden life of these people.”
In November, Live Bait will host the cabaret Lest we Forget, a cabaret of music, poetry and prose in honour of Remembrance Day.
And, of course, the annual Christmas dinner theatre will make its return in December, a popular choice for office parties and family get-togethers.
Guest speakers for last week’s AGM at Live Bait were Hermenegilde Chiasson, former lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, and his wife Marcia Babineau, artistic director of Theatre L’Escaouette in Moncton.
Rather than deliver the usual traditional speech, the two chose instead to engage in an informal, conversational discussion about theatre as it relates to cultural and social issues in the community, an appropriate theme for the evening.
Babineau talked about how Theatre L’Escaouette was founded 30 years ago by a group of drama students who wanted to stay, live and work in the area. And that decision, she said, has been tremendously beneficial to the theatre company.
“It’s had a great effect on our work, to be in the community and to have interaction with the community,” she said.
Chiasson, a writer and artist, said that’s what theatre is all about – family and community.
And with so much emphasis today on television and computers, Chiasson said theatrical productions will become even more significant as families try to gain that sense of community.
“The idea of theatre is going to become very important and central,” he said, noting that theatre shows are popular because of people’s ability to identify with the characters on the stage.
