Before there was a floating bridge, even before the introduction of television to the Okanagan Valley, the pioneers of Theatre Kelowna Society were entertaining the members of our growing community. Spanning more than five decades, Theatre Kelowna Society is one of Kelowna's oldest, and most lauded, cultural citizens.
As such we are proud to have made such a significant contribution to its storied history.
We invite you to join us as we continue our mission of enhancing the quality of life in our community by providing high quality, affordable entertainment to the citizens of Kelowna.
As such we are proud to have made such a significant contribution to its storied history.
We invite you to join us as we continue our mission of enhancing the quality of life in our community by providing high quality, affordable entertainment to the citizens of Kelowna.
As a major cultural contributor in the Kelowna community for many decades, Theatre Kelowna Society's roots go back to 1949 with the formation of the Kelowna Little Theatre by local volunteers whom we look upon today as some of Kelowna's most influential cultural pioneers. Through the years challenging works from some of the world's most renowned playwrights like Kaufman, Wilder, Simon, Chekhov, Miller and Pinter were produced.
The year 1957 saw the birth of another local group comprised of amateur volunteers - Kelowna Musical Productions. Kelowna Musical Productions had great success producing shows like 'Oklahoma', 'Brigadoon' and 'Finian's Rainbow' at the old Empress Theatre in town. Both groups contributed valuable financing and hard work to the construction of the Kelowna Community Theatre which opened to a well received production of Kelowna Musical Production's 'The King and I' in 1963.
In a foreshadowing of the current theatre scene in Kelowna, Kelowna Musical Productions and Kelowna Little Theatre amalgamated in 1972 when these organizations bought almost 50 years of combined theatrical history, experience and skills under one banner. The organization was officially unveiled as Theatre Kelowna Society on January 25th, 1973 - more than 33 years ago - and in itself longer than any other professional or non-profit theatrical society that exists in our community today.
Our Constitution calls for an annual staging of three (3) productions (i.e., a Christmas pantomime, spring musical, and a spring drama that would typically serve as our Theatre BC Zone Festival entry). During the course of its existence Theatre Kelowna Society has augmented that schedule with extra productions, workshops and playing host to Theatre BC's Zone and Provincial Drama Festivals, as well as the Dominion Drama Festival. In addition, it is incumbent upon Theatre Kelowna Society to educate its next generation of actors and actresses, producers and directors, members and leaders through membership workshops, scene studies and one act productions which we hold each year.
Theatre Kelowna Society has always strived to maintain a high standard of excellence and act as cultural ambassadors for the city of Kelowna. This commitment has resulted in numerous awards through its participation in the annual Theatre BC Zone and Provincial Drama Festivals. Last season our production of "How I Learned to Drive' won the Best Lighting, Best Actor and Best Play Awards and honorable mention in a number of other categories in the Okanagan Zone Festival. It also won Best lighting and Best Supporting Actress awards and honorable mention in a number of other categories at Theatre BC's Mainstage province wide festival bringing well deserved recognition to the city of Kelowna. Theatre Kelowna Society has been lauded as one of the best community theatre groups in the province having received more awards for it's oroductions that any other theatre group, amateur or professional, in the Kelowna region.
Theatre Kelowna Society has been producing high quality and highly valued dramas, comedies, musicals and pantomimes for over a half of a century to the citizens of Kelowna. It's members are those who have a love for live performance and the power and immediacy of theatre, who labor each year to bring new productions to our local stages. It is the space for all of us to learn, to make mistakes, to celebrate our brilliant productions and to lament our flops. Theatre Kelowna Society is a family of people who share a common dream, to make sure that theatre is alive and accessible in our community so that anyone who desires so can join us to learn and to teach and to share.
We warmly invite you to come to one of our monthly meetings and get to know the members of Theatre Kelowna Society, to join our growing group and to add your chapter to the history of culture in Kelowna. Please take a look at our Events page for the time and date of the next meeting. We hope to see you there!
© 2007 - 2008 THEATRE KELOWNA SOCIETY