THUNDER BAY – Magnus Theatre is making the leap to outdoor productions in a big way.
On Monday, the professional theatre company unveiled its new Saddlespan tent, which will seat 100 to 200 people and is now equipped with sound and lighting systems.
The structure, set up next to the theatre in Waverley Park, was named after former Thunder Bay mayor and longtime Magnus supporter Ken Boshcoff in a ceremony Monday afternoon.
The structure cost about $283,000, with Canadian Heritage providing support roughly matching that amount.
Boshcoff said he was honoured to be recognized by Magnus, which he called a crucial contributor to the city’s arts and culture scene.
“The number of productions they’ve had here, the people we’ve seen as stars, the way they’ve brought up so much local talent… we owe a lot to Magnus,” he said. “So for me, this is an easy one.”
Boshcoff made a donation of around $10,000 to support the initiative.
Magnus artistic director Thom Currie said Boshcoff’s longtime support for the arts has made a big impact, noting he has promoted the Bluesfest, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and the Community Auditorium, in addition to serving on Magnus’s board after his stint as mayor from 1997 to 2003.
“We’re going to have the audience and the actors open air in beautiful Waverley Park, but still have a professional theatre experience. We’ve got lights, we’ve got sound, we’ve got everything we need.”
It will also provide a COVID-safe environment for those hesitant to venture indoors, he said.
The theatre opened an outdoor show in 2020 to continue performing during pandemic restrictions. The move was received enthusiastically, with shows selling well, Currie said.
That left the company wanting to create a permanent outdoor option that would account for Thunder Bay’s unpredictable weather, he said.
Performances at the stage will kick off on July 14 with the musical revue Home: A Bluegrass Celebration, by Thunder Bay playwright and actor Jo-Ann Waytowich. The show runs through July 30.
The venue will also be available for community use.
“This is something we’ll be doing every summer as long as this tent lasts – and then maybe we’ll get another one,” Currie told attendees on Monday.
