Outdoor theatre set to open in downtown Sudbury in 2022
The Sudbury-based performing arts group YES Theatre is set to open an outdoor theatre in the downtown core next year.
The future outdoor theatre is a $2.8 million project that will be located on Durham Street near the YMCA.
“It started really as a Covid bandaid and then it quickly became an avenue to really realizing our artistic vision and the goals that we have for the future which is to become Canada’s largest musical theatre festival,” said Alessandro Costantini, YES Theatre Artistic and managing director.
A total of $750,000 in federal money has already been secured. The performance space will be called The Refettorio, which is an old Latin term for dining hall or gathering place.
The plan is to support emerging artists and stage small scale performances, and work with other theatre art centres in the city on a multi-venue arts festival.
“We could see 8 to 10 productions happening here between the Refettorio, Place Des Arts and the Sudbury Theatre Centre,” said Costantini. “So, we are collaborating with all the other infrastructures that already exists in the city. We have the potential to welcome upwards of 1,200 patrons per day in the downtown core between the months of April of September.”
Costantini said this project would be a good economic boost for the city.
Sudbury City Councillor Deb McIntosh, along with two other councillors, brought this motion forward at a recent council meeting, where the city is looking at chipping in $50,000.
She said the YES Theatre group is worthy of this money.
"Their passion and their success so far of their productions and their fundraising and their grants that they’ve received already just proves that this is something to get behind. And I got to tel you, the production levels of these performances of YES Theatre are incredible," McIntosh said.
The goal is to break ground next year and to have the space open to the public on either August or September of 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.