Date Range

1993-2008

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

New West Theatre

Physical Description

0.75 m of textual records; over 1,200 photographs

History Biographical

New West Theatre Society is a non-profit arts organization, registered charity and affiliate member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. Founded in April of 1990 by Brian Parkinson, the organization began with a single summer Music-Comedy Revue but expanded to a full season of varied theatrical productions by the time he retired in April of 2008. New West Theatre is the largest single user of the Genevieve E. Yates Memorial Centre using both the 488-seat proscenium and the 180-seat black box theatre. With a mandate of producing a diverse range of theatrical productions for Southern Alberta audiences, New West Theatre has brought to the stage American classics, Broadway musicals, contemporary Canadian theatre, Theatre for Young Audiences and original creations. In 2009 the current season model was established including three original Music-Comedy Revues, two Canadian plays and one Theatre for Young Audiences production. In addition to our regular season we offer educational programming to Southern Alberta’s young people through our Summer Theatre Camps and year round Theatre School. Annually we sell between 18,000 and 22,000 tickets to approximately 100 performances. Patrons attend from across Southern Alberta and beyond. New West Theatre passionately supports local professionals and hires artists from Southern Alberta, as well as professionals from across the country. ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: 1990/91 New West Theatre’s (NWT) first season comprising of one original Music-Comedy Revue All Shook Up! - Shake, Rattle & Roll II.A partnership is formed with the City of Lethbridge for use of the Yates Theatre in the Genevieve E. Yates Memorial Centre. 1991/92 The hit 1990 production, ALL SHOOK UP! tours 21 communities in Alberta and British Columbia. 1992/93 A third Music-Comedy Revue production is added to the season. Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller is produced at the University of Lethbridge. 1993/94 More than a Family by Alf Silver is toured to local schools, and NWT makes a commitment to annually produce a Theatre for Young Audiences production. 1995/96 Ties to local performers are formed with a collective creation of Puss in Boots, and a production of The Mumberly Inheritance by Warren Graves. 1997/98 Exploration of mainstream productions continues with Beauty & The Beast Adapted by Colin Hedivan & Rob Ullett and Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross. 2002/03 NWT begins engaging members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the Guest Artist Policy. The commitment to Canadian works begins with a workshop production of Mourning Dove by Emil Sher. 2003/04 A second Canadian play is added in the fall, establishing our Canadian Play Series. 2005/06 NWT performs for the Alberta Centennial at the Lethbridge Exhibition Grandstand. 2007/08 Inaugural year of NWT’s Summer Theatre Camps. Response indicates a need for auxiliary student theatre education NWT breaks attendance records posting over 28,000 patrons. Founding Artistic Director Brian Parkinson retires. A full-time General Manager position is established. 2009/10 During our 20th season, NWT celebrated its 100th production with the original Music-Comedy Revue, Carnival NWT becomes a Professional Association of Canadian Theatre Affiliate member. 2010/11 A new season model is established as three original Music-Comedy Revues, two Canadian plays and a Theatre for Young Audience production. 2011/12 A Theatre School is established offering year-round auxiliary education to Southern Albertan students with an interest in the performing arts. Artistic Director Jeremy Mason is hired full-time, establishing the new administration model of a full-time Artistic Director and a full-time General Manager. PRODUCTIONS HISTORY: ______________________________________ 2013-2014 Season COUNTRY GOLD: SONGS OF THE PRAIRIE GRASS CUT LOOSE! ROUTES RAZZLE DAZZLE MUNSCH-O-RAMA! HARVEST ______________________________________ 2012-2013 Season PARTY ON! BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR TIDINGS PEG AND THE YETI AN ALMOST PERFECT THING ______________________________________ 2011-2012 Season TWIST & SHOUT BORN TO ROCK IN A WORLD CREATED BY A DRUNKEN GOD LIGHT IT UP IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE THE KITCHEN WITCHES ______________________________________ 2010-2011 Season ROCKIN’ THE RODEO ALL FIRED UP FOR THE PLEASURE OF SEEING HER AGAIN GLITZ MAROONED WITH MUNSCH CONFESSIONS OF A PAPERBOY ______________________________________ 2009-2010 Season SOUNDTRACK CELEBRATION MARG SZKALUBA (PISSY’S WIFE) CHRISTMAS MELODIES IT’S MUNSCH TIME CARNIVAL THE ATTIC, THE PEARLS & THREE FINE GIRLS THE TOOTH FAIRY ______________________________________ 2008-2009 Season INVASION! CUTTING UP! SYLVIA CHRISTMAS CRACKERS THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS FROLIC! THE DRAWER BOY ______________________________________ 2007-2008 Season GOLD RUSH FULL ON! SITTING ON PARADISE SOUNDS LIKE CHRISTMAS RUMPLESTILTSKIN RAZZMATAZZ! MENDING FENCES ______________________________________ 2006-2007 Season GETTIN’ ROWDY! LET ‘ER RIP! MESA DEAR SANTA NED, WHAT’S UNDER YOUR BED? ANTICS! TRYING ______________________________________ 2005-2006 Season JUMP, JIVE, AND WAIL! ROCKIN’ OUT! WRECKAGE THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI ONE PAW ON THE CHICKEN’S COOP SHENANIGANS! MARY’S WEDDING ______________________________________ 2004-2005 Season GOOD VIBRATIONS! LIVIN’ IT UP! THE SHAPE OF A GIRL DEAR SANTA LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD HIJINKS! MARION BRIDGE ______________________________________ 2003-2004 Season IN THE GROOVE! ROCK SOLID! THE PLUM TREE BEAUTY & THE BEAST! THE JUNGLE BOOK MAKIN’ SPIRITS BRIGHT! STRAWBERRIES IN JANUARY ______________________________________ 2002-2003 Season irreZZistibly jaZZ GOTTA ROCK! SCROOGE CINDERELLA! JUMPIN’ FOR JOY! MOURNING DOVE ___________________________________________ 2001-2002 Season SHOWSTOPPERS ACTING UP! SCROOGE ALICE IN WONDERLAND ON THE BRIGHT SIDE! ________________________________________ 2000-2001 Season JUST JAZZIN' MOVIN' ON! SNOW WHITE & THE 7 DWARVES! SUNNY SIDE UP! __________________________________________ 1999-2000 Season SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL! CROONERS! ROCK AND ROLL IS KING! RIP VAN WINKLE! ROCKIN' THE COUNTRY! __________________________________________ 1998-1999 Season THE ALL NIGHT STRUT! DOIN' IT RIGHT! ALADDIN! SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL: THE REUNION __________________________________________ 1997-1998 Season FOREVER PLAID WALKING ON SUNSHINE FOREVER PLAID BEAUTY & THE BEAST SNOW BUSINESS WRONG FOR EACH OTHER __________________________________________ 1996-1997 Season JOKERS WILD THE MUMBERLEY INHERITANCE ROCK 'N' ROLL IS KING PUSS IN BOOTS HOT HOT HOT! LIFE AFTER HOCKEY __________________________________________ 1995-1996 Season ROCKIN' THE COUNTRY TALKING DIRTY THE MELVILLE BOYS NURSE JANE GOES TO HAWAII HOLIDAY SAUCE __________________________________________ 1994-1995 Season LIFE AFTER HOCKEY RAISED ON ROCK 'N' ROLL HOOKED ON A FEELIN' __________________________________________ 1993-1994 Season GODSPELL YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN A WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN! SCROOGE SEASONED GREETING! __________________________________________ 1992-1993 Season A MADSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM! SHAKIN' - ALL OVER! ALL THE BEST! DEATH OF A SALESMAN __________________________________________ 1991-1992 Season SHAKIN' - ALL OVER! ALL SHOOK UP! __________________________________________ 1990-1991 Season ALL SHOOK UP! - Shake Rattle & Roll II

Scope and Content

20081066/001 Alberta Performing Arts Stabilization Fund (APASF) Grant Program – correspondence and applications, 1996-97 20081066/002 The Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grants – report, guidelines, 1996-97 20081066/003 Job Creation Partnership Grant – proposal, forms, correspondence 1997 20081066/004 Job Creation Partnership Grant – proposal, forms, correspondence 1994 20081066/005 Alberta Ballet – agreement and correspondence, 1995-97 20081066/006 Alberta Playwrights’ Network - correspondence, 1996 20081066/007 Allied Arts Council – correspondence, 1997 20081066/008 Chamber of Commerce – correspondence, 1997 20081066/009 Charitable fundraising regulations; study “The Economic Impact of the Non-for-Profit Performing Arts in Calgary” by Douglas West, 1994 20081066/010 City of Lethbridge – correspondence, utility statements, lease agreement, 1994-96 20081066/011 Community Volunteer Centre – correspondence, agreement, 1997 20081066/012 Complimentary tickets for charities 20081066/013 Lethbridge Trading Area – statistical information 20081066/014 Sheri Thomson: special guest list, newspaper clippings, ticket sales 20081066/015 Charlie Brown, summer 1993, 144 photographs, 78 negatives 20081066/016 Raised on Rock-and-Roll, summer 1994, 153 photographs, 32 negatives 20081066/017 Hooked on a Feeling, Christmas 1994/95, 65 photographs, 151 negatives 20081066/018 Alberta Winter Games – Friends of the Games Tracking list, 1996 20081066/019 Letter from Mayor David B. Carpenter; photo of Sen. Fairbairn 20081066/020 Theatrical Supplies – Don’s Hobby Shop (Calgary), 1994 20081066/021 Wage subsidies – proposal and correspondence, 1997 20081066/022 Yates Centre Operations: Client Handbook, Manual, Implementation Plan, minutes of the Yates User Group, 1993-97 20081066/023 Design images for All Night Strut 1998 production 20081066/024 Theatrical production – financial records, supplies, etc. 1994-99 20081066/025 Crooners – promotional materials, 1999 20081066/026 Forever Plaid – production records and promotional materials, 1997 20081066/027 Hot Hot Hot – portraits of production staff, 1999; 75 photographs 20081066/028 Irish Descendents – production records and promotional materials, 1994-95 20081066/029 Joker is Wild – production records and promotional materials, 1996; 77 photographs 20081066/030 Karma & Joe and the Teddy Bear Band – production records and promotional materials, 1994-95 20081066/031 Kelowna Tour (Forever Plaid, Sunshine) – financial records, correspondence, etc. , 1995 20081066/032 Life After Hockey – promotional materials, budget statement 1996 20081066/033 Advertizing in tourist brochures 1994 20081066/034 Rock’n Roll is King (Kelowna) – promotional materials, correspondence, 1996 20081066/035 Song from the Stage – production materials, 1999 20081066/036 Walking on Sunshine brochures, photo of Mayor David. B. Carpenter 20081066/037 Production communications 1995 20081066/038 Seasoned Greeting -- Christmas 1993: 45 production photos 20081066/039 Holiday Sauce – Christmas 1995/96: 157 production photos 20081066/040 Festival Company – Summer 1995: 176 production photos 20081066/041 Rocking the Country – Summer 1995: 149 production photos

Accession No.

20081066

Collection

Archive

Less detail