August 17, 2016, OTTAWA – The Studio Theatre in Perth, Ontario will open its first show after the theatre was renovated with seats installed from the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall. The show, a new Canadian musical called Bingo Ladies by Grant Tilley, has its opening night on August 18 at 7:30 p.m.

“The Studio Theatre is excited to present the fabulous new Canadian musical Bingo Ladies, and for our public to enjoy their new seats,” said Penny Silberhorn, President of the Studio Theatre. “We thank the National Arts Centre for donating them to us.”

In late June, Perth’s Studio Theatre received 200 seats from the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall. The NAC’s seats are being replaced as part of a major renovation that also includes the addition of mid aisles and a cross aisle that will greatly enhance the customer experience and accessibility for patrons; new hardwood flooring which will contribute to improved acoustics; and many production upgrades. Southam Hall will re-open in October.

The NAC also donated 720 seats to Woodroffe High School in Ottawa, and 450 seats to the Astor Theatre, the oldest performing arts venue in Nova Scotia.

“We are delighted that the NAC’s Southam Hall seats have a found a terrific new home at the Studio Theatre, as well as at Ottawa’s Woodroffe High School and at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool, Nova Scotia,” said NAC President and CEO Peter Herrndorf.

MEDIA DETAILS

What: Opening Night of Bingo Ladies, 7:30 p.m.
           Doors open to the public, 6:30 p.m.
           Ribbon-cutting ceremony, 6:55 p.m.

When: Thursday, August 18

Where: Studio Theatre, 63 Gore Street East, Unit 2, Perth

Bingo Ladies (Studio Theatre/Indie Women Productions), runs from August 18-28, and is a fundraiser for the Jillian O’Connor Family Fund.

The Studio Theatre in Perth first opened its doors in 1994. Volunteers from the community pulled together to purpose-build the theatre from an empty room on the second floor of a heritage building in downtown Perth, with a tiny lobby and the bare necessities to put on plays. Its previous seats were from movie theatre in Renfrew that was being renovated. Through fundraising and proceeds from ticket sales, the theatre has since added an elevator and an attractive new lobby with a bar and art gallery, as well as new and renovated washrooms. And now, thanks to the National Arts Centre and a lot of hard work by its dedicated volunteers, the theatre has taken on a whole new ambiance with the installation of the comfy red seats. Studio Theatre Productions puts on eight plays every year, all by volunteers.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Mary Gordon
National Editor
National Arts Centre
613-947-7000, ext. 849
mary.gordon@nac-cna.ca