For immediate release: January 11, 2001 Dormant Heritage Building Rejuvenated as Community Theatre Kitchener - J.M.Drama is ready to raise the curtain on Kitchener-Waterloo's newest community theatre. The Registry Theatre, located at 122 Frederick Street, will open this month in the former Land Registry Office, a heritage building which has been vacant since 1992. "The Registry Theatre is the culmination of a dream of J.M. Drama to create a community theatre," said Don Bourgeois, J.M. Drama president. "During the past decade interest in the performing arts in Waterloo Region has grown immensely, however, performing arts groups have not had an affordable venue. This building will meet that growing need." J.M. Drama has leased the building from the City of Kitchener for 21 years and is responsible for the operations of the Theatre on the advice of a broad-based user-group committee. The year round facility will be available for use by all community performing arts groups, schools and smaller professional organizations for music, drama, dance, film, community meetings and educational purposes. Groups already booked to use the venue include the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Numus, Paradox Theatre, Waterloo Dance Frontier and the City of Kitchener. At $125 per day plus a clean-up fee, the rental is affordable. The facility can accommodate up to 200 people depending on the configuration of seating and stage. The total cost to renovate and equip the facility was $575,000 which works out to less than $3,500 per seat. Industry standards range from $10,000 to $15,000 per seat. J.M. Drama is responsible for these costs and so far has raised approximately 70 per cent of the total. Major donors include the Millennium Bureau of Canada, the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Funds were also received from the province through Main Street Ontario. In addition, the Walter Fedy Partnership provided architectural, engineering and management services. J.M. Drama has financed the remainder and will repay the loan over five years. To do so, a capital campaign will begin later this year. A series of events are planned to mark the opening of the new venue: Media Open House - Tuesday, January 16, 4 p.m. The media is invited to see the renovated building first hand. A rehearsal of Wait Until Dark will be occurring. Representatives of J.M. Drama, the City of Kitchener and several groups planning to use the theatre will be available. Public Open House - Sunday, January 21, 1 - 3 p.m. Guided tours will be offered every half hour from 1 to 2:30 p.m as final preparations are made for Wait Until Dark. There will be some millennium mementos given out and refreshments will be available. Representatives of groups using the theatre will be available to provide information about their respective organizations. J.M. Drama presents Wait Until Dark, January 23 - 26, 8 p.m. J.M. Drama presents the premiere production at the theatre. It is a suspense thriller by Frederick Knott. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for seniors/students and are available by calling: 578-1570. Gala Opening - January 27, 7:45 The Gala night features the official opening ceremony for the theatre. A sold-out performance of Wait Until Dark follows. The Registry building was constructed in 1938-39 by Dunker Construction and served as the Waterloo County Registry Office from 1939 until the summer of 1977, when the office moved to the new Provincial Courthouse at Frederick and Lancaster Streets. The building was then used by the Waterloo Regional Police (Kitchener detachment) until 1992 and was then used briefly as a storage area for the Curling Hall of Fame. In 1991, the City of Kitchener designated the building under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, meaning alterations to certain architectural features must be approved by City Council. The heritage designation was made on the grounds that the property was both of historic and architectural significance and served as an important landmark within the City of Kitchener. Built in the Art Deco style, it is one of few remaining Art Deco buildings in the city. J.M. Drama is a registered charity and has operated in Waterloo Region for almost two decades. It has a long tradition of quality productions (musicals, comedies, dramas, children plays), community support (equipment loans, community sponsorships) and support for education and training (sponsorships, equipment loans and scholarships). The Registry Theatre allows J.M. Drama to contribute in a more comprehensive, effective and efficient manner to our community. - 30 - For more information contact: Don Bourgeois, President, J.M. Drama at 893-1564 or Paul Sinnott, Communications Director, City of Kitchener at 741-2958
About Us The Registry Theatre   Profile   Programs and Services   News Releases Join J.M. Drama   Contact Us   Pillars of Support Friends of J.M. Drama (Mailing List)
Copyright © 1998 - 2008 J.M. Drama. All rights reserved. Site last updated 20 march 2008.