THUNDER BAY — A major expansion at Magnus Theatre remains on time and on budget as reconstruction work begins on a studio theatre and other new features, the organization reports.
The multi-million dollar project includes an addition to house the secondary 125-seat studio theatre, while expanding Magnus’s production shop and renovating the bar and lounge, and maintaining heritage features of the historic former Central School property.
Theatre officials have said the expansion responds to exponential growth in demand for both programming and facility rentals.
Magnus has touted the project as a way to not only meet that demand with expanded local theatre production options, but boost the organization’s economic and social impact.
Once the work is complete, artistic director Thom Currie said it will leave Magnus boasting three possible stage options on site.
That will include an upgraded main stage, the new studio theatre, and the outdoor saddlespan tent Magnus added last year.
That variety will give Magnus staging options, while Currie also envisions the stages could be put to simultaneous use for special events.
“It’s going to be a really exciting time, because we’ll essentially have three performance spaces,” he said. “We’re going to have the main stage, which is being retrofitted with more energy-efficient lighting and things like that, we’re going all LED inside so we can save some money and be better to the planet.”
“The new studio theatre will house about 125 patrons, and it’s going to be a beautiful black-box theatre that is convertible to theatre-in-the-round or proscenium-style.”
“Then we’re going to continue having the tent when the weather allows, so that’s 135 people, which is more theatre than tent now, because we’ve got full lights, sound, and everything.”
The temperature-controlled tent is now outfitted with risers and padded seats.
The tent will host summer and fall programming, including Mama’s Country Record Collection and a subsequent production running in October and November.
Currie said the Next Stage project remains on track for an early summer reopening next year, and is expected to remain within its projected $8.4-million budget.
Magnus selected M Builds as the contractor for the project earlier this year.
The company is headquartered in Winnipeg but has offices in Thunder Bay.
Magnus Theatre first opened in 1972 in the East End, at a location on McLaughlin Street.
The renovations to its new location are funded in part by the Government of Canada, FedNor, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the Ontario Trillium Fund, the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, and local business TBXI.
