History of Theatre Ancaster

Our Upcoming Season 2007-2008

Theatre Ancaster continues its second decade of community musical theatre this fall with The Sound of Music, opening November 16. This will be a full Broadway style production with a cast of 40 and a 15 piece professional orchestra.  Last November, My Fair Lady entertained more than 4000 patrons.  Christmas at The Old Firehall Arts Centre in December was filled for two shows, Reminiscing: The Music of the 70s drew rave reviews in April, and several other productions from past years were showcased for lunch and dinner shows at Carmen’s Banquet Centre, including Divas: The Concert in December, and Irish Eyes in March.

In April 2008, Theatre Ancaster will present Divas Do Broadway, featuring new songs in a Broadway rather than a pop setting for our popular Divas. Our Stage 2 Saturdays Company will present a full Broadway Junior style show at the end of January, with actor/singers from 8-14 strutting their stuff.  Stage 3: The Young Company will present their own Broadway show at the end of February and early March. The Young Company is for teens in high school and beyond.

Thank you to our Community of Supporters

We want to take this opportunity to thank our patrons and sponsors for their support during the past decade, as well as our casts and crews, and our families and friends.  It’s been wonderful.

How We Got Started

Ralf Hakenberg, Al Croxall and Gord Conroy directed and produced a decade of very successful musicals for high school students at Ancaster High School beginning in 1982. Each year, they involved anywhere from 100 to 200 students in all aspects of the productions.

Theatre Ancaster originated in Ancaster’s bicentennial year, 1993, under the auspices of the Ancaster Arts Council.  With the co-operation of Ancaster High School and the former Wentworth County Board of Education, we showcased three original Broadway Reviews - titled Broadway Hits Ancaster, November, 1993; Puttin’ on the Hitz, February, 1995; and The Magic of Broadway, in November, 1996.  In November 1995, we staged Jesus Christ Superstar.

Our Status and Mandate

In the spring of 1997, Theatre Ancaster became a separate entity.  We are incorporated as a non-profit community theatre with federal charitable organization status.  Our stated purpose as a community theatre is:

*To present excellent quality live musical theatre and related attractions

*To organize support for such events

*To promote musical theatre among the youth and adults of Ancaster and the surrounding community.”

Our First Productions as Theatre Ancaster

In November 1997, we presented our first production as Theatre Ancaster: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.   In November 1998, we highlighted Ancaster and area singers and dancers of all ages in Sing For Me: A Tribute to the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.  In April/May of 1998, we presented our first Spring show, Perfectly Frank: The Songs of Sinatra. 

Our 1999 - 2000 season included four projects.  In November, 1999: Millennium: The Musical, an original show, combined the  “Greatest Hits” of the century into two hours of Broadway style singing, dancing and memories.  In December, we once again presented an evening of holiday entertainment and singing for the whole family in the Ancaster Old Town Hall.  Voluntary donations at the door were once again given to charity.  In March/April 2000 we featured Little Shop of Horrors, the musical comedy satire on horror show films.

In  2000 - 2001, Theatre Ancaster presented Oliver!  in November,  followed by our fourth annual Holiday Music in The Old Town Hall in December, and in April, an original  musical review.  The April show had the title: 2001: A Broadway Odyssey.

Our season in 2001 - 2002 included Fiddler on the Roof in November, and Doo Wop Fever in April. We also took over management of the popular, Music at the Gazebo summer program, and participated in it on one of the Sundays.  Music at the Gazebo has since been moved to its new home at the bandstand at Fieldcote Museum, on Sulphur Springs Road, and has now become incorporated as a separate not for profit organization. In December, 2001, we provided entertainment at the Ancaster Rotary Club’s dinner and dance as well as our annual Holiday Music in the Old Town Hall for the whole family.

Our season in 2002 - 2003 included The Music Man in November, and Motown: A Musical Tribute in April. We also produced two shows for Carmen’s - Springtime with Webber and Rice and Smokey Joe’s Café.  Smokey Joe’s also played to sold out houses at The Old Town Hall in Ancaster during the Canadian Open in September. We also sang at the Retirement Gala for former Ancaster and Hamilton mayor, Bob Wade. 

Joseph was again the hit show that opened our 2003-2004 season. Gary Smith of The Hamilton Spectator called it one of the best shows he had seen in 40 years of community theatre.  We followed with another success, The Doo Wop Shop, in the spring.  Doo Wop Fever had been so popular that we had to revisit more of the great Doo Wop hits with their fabulous harmonies. The popularity of The Doo Wop Shop took us to Carmen’s for performances in May and June, and further performances were held in January, May and September 2005.  We also continued our Christmas tradition with Christmas at The Old Town Hall once again, and added a special Christmas luncheon show at Carmen’s.

In  2004-2005, we opened our fall season with Oklahoma!  which played to packed houses.  In April we featured Night Fever: The Music of The Bee Gees and Friends.  It was another original musical review in the tradition of Doo Wop and Motown.  WE continued our tradition of  Christmas at The Ancaster Old Town Hall in December, and several lunch and dinner shows at Carmen’s including The Doo Wop Shop in January, and Irish Eyes in March.

In 2005-2006, Guys and Dolls was our fall show, followed by Divas: The Concert in April. This was a first for us…a completely female cast that showcased the top female singers and hits from six decades of song.  It was a smash hit, and we featured Divas at the Fieldcote Summer Music Series again that summer, and at Carmen’s in September and December.

In 2006-2007. My Fair Lady in November broke box office records.  Reminiscing: The Sounds of the 70s was our spring hit, with our new company Stage 2 Saturdays performing Dear Edwina in January with a full cast of enthusiastic and talented youth ages 8-14. The Young Company presented The Wiz in February-March, and as usual, Theatre Ancaster provided the community with their Christmas show in December, and with an outdoor treat once again featuring Reminiscing at Fieldcote in June for the summer music series.  Dinner theatre at Carmen’s featured Doo Wop in October, Divas in December, and Irish Eyes in March. Theatre Ancaster also added a new partnership with The Old Mill Restaurant in Ancaster and provided a a newly created show, The Christmas Musical Mystery Caper for several performances during November December.  Theatre Ancaster was also part of the Too Good to Miss Arts in Concert Series at Redeemer College which featured Divas on March 2.  A young teen Diva chosen in a talent audition process made her debut with Theatre Ancaster. Theatre Ancaster also teamed with The Hamilton All Star Jazz band at The Old Firehall Arts centre for a Valentine Show for the first time that will be repeated next year. The Old Firehall also hosted a Motown Show, and Jazz nights with the various Jazz Bands, and a series of late spring Improv Comedy nights for a young troupe of teen actor/comedians trained by Cindy Rees Knowles.

Educational Work With Young People

Our major work with young people has been part of Theatre Ancaster from the beginning. Theatre Ancaster directors worked with hundreds of students at the high school level in school musical productions providing students with experience in all aspects of stage and production work. Younger directors taught by the founding directors still carry on the tradition in their own teaching careers.   We all strive to develop leadership and teamwork, and promote in students a belief in themselves and in working hard and doing things well. These values carry over to the summer camp programs and to the two theatre companies for youth, Stage 2 Saturdays for ages 8-14 and Stage 3: The Young Company for teens. Further information can be found in the Fall and Winter Program for Youth.

Theatre Ancaster has a history of reaching out in other ways with drama and training. From February to June, 2000, 2001 and 2002, Theatre Ancaster completed a contract with the Hamilton-Wentworth District Board of Education.  Each year eight different secondary school students, under the direction of Gord Conroy and Al Croxall, researched, wrote and presented a forty minute stage presentation aimed at persuading senior elementary and secondary school students to consider careers in the skilled trades.  This project was funded by the School Board, the Apprenticeship Branch of the Ontario Government, and by Human Resources Canada.  Each year, it was presented to 6000 - 9000 students at more than twenty-five schools and to the public.

In 2003 and again in 2004, a new project was undertaken from September to February each year. It featured the production of short videos on careers in the entertainment industry, health sciences, transportation, and the skilled trades and was presented to more than ninety classes of students in grades 7 and 8 by senior high school students trained in role playing and group presentation techniques by Conroy and Croxall.

Theatre Ancaster also provides co-op education in various aspects of musical theatre work. We provide expertise and hands on training, and have worked with young people from Hamilton. Ancaster and Brantford.

The Old Firehall Arts Centre

In 2003, Theatre Ancaster and The Hamilton All Star Jazz Band began creating an Arts Centre at The Old Firehall on Wilson Street in downtown Ancaster. The first phase of the project featured new heating and air conditioning, rehearsal space for the two arts organizations, and a small performance space for 75-100 people to showcase local talent on the weekends.  The project was roundly supported by Ancaster Councilor Murray Ferguson, and funded in part by The Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Gala Opening

Our Gala Opening Concert at The Old Firehall Arts Centre was October 26, 2005. The refurbished firehall was filled to overflowing as singers from Theatre Ancaster combined with musicians from The Hamilton All Star Jazz Band under the leadership of Russ Weil.  A new stage, lighting and sound system welcomed the audience.

Theatre Ancaster’s Summer Music Theatre Programs for Youth

Young people have always been a part of all our Broadway shows. We have chosen our Broadway shows to make sure an intergenerational cast was possible. In 1999, we began our first summer theatre program for young people. It featured singing, dancing, and acting and as far as possible, developed teamplay, caring, leadership and responsibility in as many aspects of theatre work as was possible.  That philosophy has been maintained as the program expanded.

Theatre Ancaster’s successful summer arts and musical theatre camp program operated from The Old Firehall for the first time in the summer of 2005.  The program which began in 1999 with two sessions, has now expanded to six weeks to include The Jitterbugs, a camp for Pre School children, and three older camps for youth, a Junior Program, an Intermediate, and a Senior program.  Students from 3.5 to 15 are now involved.  All camps provide excellent teacher leaders in drama, music and dance.  Nupi Lapsley is our Director of Youth Programming.  Krista Cranston is our Head Instructor.

Theatre Ancaster’s Fall and Winter Programs for Youth

In 2005, Theatre Ancaster began Stage 3: The Young Company for teens.  The program was an outgrowth of the summer camp program. Teens were eligible to become members of the company without auditioning. Interest and commitment to learn were the qualities most desired. Students meet weekly for training and instruction, and then expand those learning workshops to full rehearsals to produce a Broadway production using directors and expertise from Theatre Ancaster personnel. Grease and The Wiz were the productions chosen in years one and two. The program is entering its third year.

In 2006, Theatre Ancaster responded to parents who wanted their younger children to have the camp experience extend into fall and winter sessions as well. Stage 2 Saturdays was born. This program for ages 8-14 provides youth with a full Broadway Junior production. Again, Theatre Ancaster provides expertise and mentorship. Last year the production of Dear Edwina was very successful. The program is entering its second season.

Recognition for Our Programs

Theatre Ancaster Theatre Ancaster recently received its second grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation, this time for $49,000.  An earlier grant from The Trillium Foundation for $75,000.00 helped purchase sound and lighting equipment.

In 1995, Theatre Ancaster founding directors Al Croxall, Ralf Hakenberg and Gord Conroy were honoured by The Town of Ancaster for their services as educators and musical theatre directors who enriched the community with their work.

The same three individuals were also honoured as Paul Harris Fellows by Rotary Internationalin June 2003.

Before Ancaster’s amalgamation  with Hamilton, similar honours were given to both Doris Holder, a tireless leader and volunteer with Theatre Ancaster and other organizations, to Dan McGuire our sound technician for both high school and community shows and events for some twenty years, and to Tina Rath for her work as choreographer for Theatre Ancaster and teacher of dance in the community.

Ongoing Community Work

Theatre Ancaster provides musical entertainment, using a small group of performers, to community, charitable, and private functions.

Theatre Ancaster has provided some $70,000 in improvements and support over its last decade to the Theatre Auditorium at Ancaster High School as part of its partnership agreement with the school.

To keep up to date with Theatre Ancaster activities, visit our website at www.theatreancaster.com

To become involved with Theatre Ancaster, or for tickets and general information, please call 905-304-SHOW (7469).