It's not the sort of action Melissa Braun likes to take, but at last week's Squamish Academy of Music (SAM) production, a lack of seating capacity forced her to turn people away.
I think the theatre that we have limits the music and theatre community in Squamish, the owner of SAM said of the Eagle Eye Theatre at Howe Sound Secondary School.
With 180 seats, the music school's production of The Little Mermaid Jr. was out of space before doors opened on both Friday and Saturday (July 26 and 27). The number of youth in Squamish is rapidly increasing and so is the town's thespian community, Braun said, adding that the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association's year-end dance performances are spread over several days because the small audience capacity.
Eagle Eye Theatre is tucked away in the high school. It lacks a box office, a show marquee and a lobby to serve beverages and snacks.
People are surprised when they actually find it, Braun said.
Squamish's performance space shortage is not a new story, said Kathy Daniels, Between Shifts Theatre's artistic director. Last March the company turned away up to 100 potential ticket buyers per night during its production of The Calendar Girls.
The space is one of two facilities in Squamish the other being the smaller, private Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG). As a result, Eagle Eye books up with community events, while also juggling Howe Sound Secondary School's activities. Trying to secure enough stage time for a show run is difficult, Daniels said and added it prevents Squamish from hosting theatre festivals.
A central arts hub would allow performance groups to share costume and set storage and build on existing talent pools, she noted.
We have a strong arts community here which is not well supported and not well organized because there is no central spot for them, Daniels said.
This month, long-time local arts supporter Doreen Ramus wrote a letter to District of Squamish asking officials to consider funding a theatre with a Legacy Fund grant that local officials are seeking from the federal Ministry of Canadian Heritage. If secured, the grant amounts to $500,000, with the municipality matching federal funds.
The creation of a community performance venue is on municipal officials' radar, Mayor Rob Kirkham said. It's included in the Squamish Oceanfront development's sub-area plan at the south end of the 59 waterfront acres. Zoning can be changed, but the plan was forged by the residents' visions, he said.
It could be moved, but there are definitely plans in there for a theatre, he said.
Kirkham sees the district supporting such a project in a similar manner to the municipality's involvement with the social services hub Centrepoint. Last month council contributed close to $300,0000 toward the Sea to Sky Community Services and Squamish United project in waived development charges and donated cash.
For years, Daniels has sat on numerous boards talking about a new theatre, but she isn't holding out too much hope.
I have been on these committees forever and a day, she said.
