Civic Address:
61 River St, Kentville, NS B4N 1G8
Mailing Address
CentreStage Theatre
P.O. Box 742
Kentville NS, B4N 3X9
History of CentreStage
The idea of having a quality, year-round community theatre was the dream of Allen Hume, Susan Munro, Jerry Morine, Chloris Morine, Gertrude Bishop, Arlo Moen, and Diana Bishop. From 1984 to 1998 this group, along with many, many volunteers produced and presented a total of 112 plays, all but the first six of them at the Theatre in Centre Square, Kentville. When they decided to take a break, they turned the company over to another talented and enthusiastic group of individuals who, along with several others and countless volunteers, have worked tirelessly to provide the Valley with a first-rate community theatre. It was under the direction of this new group that many of the changes that have come about since 1998 have occurred.
Since its inception, CentreStage has provided the Valley with not only good theatre but also with an outlet for the creative talents of it citizens. As a result, the theatre has garnered a large and dedicated following among the members of the theatre-going public. This has in turn inspired and energized those charged with the task of “running” the theatre to greater efforts to improve upon this wonderful gift. It was for this reason that those in a leadership role applied for and were granted status as a Society as defined under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia. By doing so, the Theatre looked to expanding the involvement of the theatre-going public in the actual running of the theatre. It also gave the theatre the opportunity to add an educational element to its mandate; consequently, workshop for adults and children have become part of the fabric of the theatre.
Times have not always been easy for CentreStage. Running a community theatre strictly on what is taken in at the box office and on donations from generous private citizens is no easy task. There were times when month to month existence was all that could be managed—but manage they did. Times are somewhat better today, but our continued existence still depends upon ticket sales, advertisement, membership fees, and donations by generous patrons. The recent move from the Centre Square location in Kentville to the River Street location in Kentville was not accomplished without incurring great expense. Thankfully, “sweat equity” helped to keep the cost from soaring to unmanageable levels and the donations from the Town of Kentville, the Kentville Rotary Club, the Government of Nova Scotia, numerous patrons, and generous repayable loans from some Board members have allowed us to meet our obligations thus far. Those who have visited the new site have been favorably impressed and feel that the move has added greatly to the theatre-going experience. To aid in our fund-raising efforts, the Society applied for and was granted status as a not-for-profit organization by the Government of Canada. This, of course, allows us to issue tax receipts for any donations given to the theatre that meet the Revenue Canada guidelines.
CentreStage now produces eight different plays a year, each of them running for six consecutive weekends on Friday and Saturday evenings. During the run of each show, provision has been made for several matinee performances . The plays are a mix of comedies, mystery thrillers, musicals and warmhearted dramas. When one play is in production, the one following it is in rehearsal. The Society also offers theatre camps for children which usually results in a production that is presented to the general public.
While some regular cast members have professional experience in theatre, television, and film, their involvement with CentreStage is strictly on a volunteer basis and is done for the love of theatre. There are no paid employees, which makes it truly amazing that CentreStage Theatre is now in its 35th year of existence and has produced as of November 2019, 308 plays/musicals, involving a total of over 400 different actors/ actresses/ singers/ technicians in the Valley.
Land Acknowledgement
CentreStage Theatre acknowledges that we are on Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unseated territory of the Mi’kmaq people. We acknowledge that storytelling has been happening here long before our arrival and we as CentreStage Theatre aim to embody Truth and Reconciliation. We share these stories in the lands governed by the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which these nations first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources, but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.
We, members of the board, and volunteers pay respect to the elders, past and present, and descendants of this land. We honour the knowledge keepers and seek their guidance as we strive to develop closer relationships with the Indigenous people of Mi’kma’ki.
Committees
Artist’s Wall: Are you a local artist wanting to display your artwork at CentreStage? This committee coordinates the artists and displays for each show.
Mindy Vinqvist-Tymchuk Chairperson.
Costume Committee: Do you have costumes to donate? Would you like to help sew costumes? This committee works with directors to find suitable costumes for each play. If costumes are not available, then the committee sews needed clothing.
Lana Churchill Chairperson.
House Management Committee: Would you like help greet our patrons? This committee looks after Front of House for each show (makes coffee and tea, sells fundraiser raffle tickets, passes out programs, helps with tidying of the theatre before and after each show).
Bryen Stoddard Chairperson.
Marketing and Publicity Committee: Would you like to help publicize CentreStage's plays and special events? Can you help sell tickets? Do you like to write media releases? This committee makes sure the word is spread about CentreStage Theatre!
Mindy Vinqvist-Tymchuk Chairperson.
Sponsorship: Would you like to advertise with CentreStage? This committee organizes the sponsors and ad placements.
Mindy Vinqvist-Tymchuk Chairperson
Play Reading Committee: Would you like to help select the plays at CentreStage? Are you a local playwright looking to workshop your play? Would you like to hold a performance at CentreStage? This committee reads plays for possible selection, chooses directors for upcoming plays, works with local playwrights to workshop and/or produce their plays.
Junie Hutchinson Chairperson.
Building and Property Committee: Are you handy? Do you want to help make repairs to the theatre? This committee maintains and repairs the building
Alan Tupper Chairperson.
Set Management and Technical Committee: We always need help building our sets - do you have carpentry or painting skills? Are you interested in light/sound tech work? We will train you! This committee manages set pieces/set building materials/designs and helps build sets, manages technical equipment/designs light and sound effects.
Junie Hutchinson Chairperson.
Membership Committee: Would you like to become a member? This committee looks after the membership roll.
Suzie Blatt Chairperson.
Special Events Committee: Would you like to participate in a special event or workshop? Do you have an idea for a special event or workshop? This committee looks after coordinating our special events.
Mike Butler Chairperson.
Donations: Would you like to make a donation to CentreStage Theatre? This committee looks after the donations for the theatre and issues charitable receipts.
Mindy Vinqvist-Tymchuk Chairperson.
Youth Theatre: Want to know about events of interest to youth? This committee looks after Youth Drama Camps and youth drama workshops.
Lana Churchill Chairperson.
For general inquiries, email us
Board of Directors
Mindy Vinqvist-Tymchuk - Chair
Mike Butler - Vice Chair
Krysta Hatt- Treasurer
Suzie Blatt - Secretary
Ross Chapman - Director
Lana Churchill - Director
Spencer Laing - Director
Elva Kelley - Director