The Rotary Club of Sylvan Lake has donated $2,000 to the Sylvan Lake Theatre, providing a major boost to its award-winning Theatre Trail and youth-focused drama programming.
Supporting Youth and Storytelling
“We’ve watched the work of this theatre group,” said Jim MacSween, incoming president of the Rotary Club. “We just felt that it was a worthwhile addition to Sylvan Lake. There are a lot of needs out there, but we thought one of the needs was to have some entertainment and also some training for young people.”
The Rotary Club previously supported the group with a smaller donation but is now committing to ongoing financial backing. “We’d also hope to provide $2,000 for the next three years,” said MacSween. “We’ve made that commitment in principle.”
Theatre Trail and Drama Camp Among Programs Funded
This funding will help sustain the Sylvan Lake Theatre’s youth drama camp and its Theatre Trail — a locally written, site-specific theatre experience performed in downtown businesses each fall.
Bringing Theatre to the Streets
“The Theatre Trail is a very unique thing. It does happen elsewhere in the world, but in Canada, it's not a routine event,” said Tanya Ryga, artistic director of Sylvan Lake Theatre. “We invite playwrights to write short plays about certain shops or services around Sylvan Lake... Then we go into rehearsal and in the first couple of weekends in September, the trail is launched.”
Storytellers guide audiences from one pop-up performance to another, sharing local tales steeped in history and fiction. “They’ll stop at various places on the trail and tell really, really fun stories that are based in Sylvan Lake history or present day life,” Ryga said.
From First-Timers to Future Stars
Beyond performances, the theatre company offers a variety of training programs for both youth and adults. “We mostly teach adults, but we also have a summer drama camp,” Ryga explained. “We like to pay the artists an honorarium at the end of the project... the teachers are all experts in their field.”
As the company prepares for its fourth season, it is currently in its audition phase. “It’s audition season in the theatre world in Central Alberta,” said Ryga. “In May, we’re running three evening classes... for people who are interested in auditioning for the various theatre companies in Central Alberta.”
Participants can expect to sharpen their audition skills, including monologue work and stage presence, during the Wednesday night classes held at the Lions Hall.
Ryga added that the Rotary’s contribution helps more than the bottom line — it shows belief in the arts and the town’s creative future. “They are wanting to put some muscle behind that idea to help with theatre tourism... and also supporting the school,” she said.
“This is the first time that we’ve had such a great, large, wonderful sum,” she continued. “What non-profit group doesn’t tick up their heels at the thought of sustainable funding? Being able to count on that... is really wonderful.”
To learn more about Sylvan Lake Theatre’s productions, auditions, or how to support the group, visit sylvanlaketheatre.com.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.
CentralAlbertaOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CentralAlbertaOnline app.