Royal and McPherson Theatres Society: Centennial Festival

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Saturday, May 24th, 2014

Victoriaʼs two major civic theatres, the Royal Theatre and the McPherson Playhouse, are celebrating their centennial birthdays in May 2014.

To honour this pair of landmark buildings and the extraordinary impact they have had on Victoriaʼs cultural life, the Royal and McPherson Theatres Society (RMTS) is presenting a weeklong Centennial Festival, running from May 18-25, 2014.

�Victoria was still very much a frontier town in 1914, and it is hard to overestimate the impact that the Royal and McPherson theatres had on the cityʼs cultural life when they first opened,� says Lloyd Fitzsimonds, executive director of the RMTS. �That impact has continued to grow over successive decades, and the theatres have gone on to function as the hub of this cityʼs cultural activities.�

People cherish memories of the superstars who have performed here, whether international legends such as Sarah Bernhardt and Mikhail Baryshnikov or Canadian icons like k.d. lang and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. But according to Fitzsimonds, the theatresʼ greatest impact has been local. All of our noted �homegrown� talent � including David Foster, Nelly Furtado, Crystal Pite, Timothy Vernon, and Richard Margison � have all had a �Royal or McPherson moment� prior to launching their international careers. �Consider the ongoing impact of the Victoria Symphony, Pacific Opera Victoria, and the Victoria Operatic Society on this city,� Fitzsimonds adds. �These are immensely important institutions that, for decades, have brought us to our feet, moved us to tears, and in so many ways enriched our lives. Without the appropriate venues, this would never have happened.�
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The Centennial Festival will honour this unique cultural legacy by showcasing an abundance of local, regional, and international talent � from the latest work of internationally acclaimed dancer-choreographer Crystal Pite to opera superstar Ben Heppner. Whether your taste runs to jazz trumpeter Chris Botti with the Victoria Symphony or Victoriaʼs own Daniel Lapp presenting a �roots celebration� of the regionʼs best folk and acoustic musicians, these memorable performances will delight audiences while spanning a very wide range of cultural creativity.

On May 18th, the actual opening date of the McPherson Playhouse, we will have a very special birthday party. Everyone is invited to join the daytime festivities at Centennial Square.

Activities include free family-friendly performances, guided tours of the McPherson Playhouse, storytelling events, displays of fascinating archival material and, of course, ice cream and cake!

A dedicated website, rm100.ca, that highlights the intriguing history and amazing stories associated with the Royal and McPherson theatres will also be launched on November 14th.

�A celebration of the past isnʼt complete without a look to the future,� Fitzsimonds adds. �Much of the Festival involves performances from the immense pool of local talent, to highlight the impact these two venerable buildings have had on the existing cultural community and to remind us of how important they will be in launching Victoriaʼs next 100 years.�

TICKETS:

All Centennial Festival events go on sale November 14th through rm100.ca or the McPherson Box Office at 250-386-6121

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FESTIVAL SPONSORS:

Canadian Heritage, BC Community, Sport, and Cultural Development,

City of Victoria, CRD Arts Advisory Council

FESTIVAL MEDIA SPONSORS:

Times Colonist, CTV, CFAX, Kool FM, Trapeze Communications