Elora Community Theatre (ECT) is on the move once again after learning its current home at the former Gary Cooper dealership in Elora was sold and needs to be vacated by Aug. 2.
The former dealership is the first space the ECT has rented where everything has been in one place, said ECT president Deb Stanson.
“The space was perfect,” she said. “It is the best one we’ve ever had in 43 years.”
The group has been in the dealership for about a year and a half, Stanson said, and over that time the membership has grown.
“Since we did have a … home where we had everything together it also helped us grow our group,” she said. “Because of the perception of sort of stability for us and it’s a lot more comfortable environment. Having access to your props and your costumes while you’re rehearsing just makes the whole process a lot more comfortable and convenient for everybody.”
Now ECT is on the lookout for a new location for rehearsals, costume and prop storage and set building space, all in the same building.
“Especially appreciated would be a long-term rental,” representatives wrote in an email.
While any space would be welcome, Stanson said ideally the space would be 3,000 square feet or more where the group can hold rehearsals, store costumes and props and have room to build the sets.
“I would say we could fill up two 16-foot trucks right now of stuff,” she said. “And it’s good stuff … it’s stuff we need to keep going.”
ECT is made up solely of volunteers and has been operating as a non-profit, charitable status group since 1972, presenting over 150 productions for their audiences. The coming 2015-16 season has just been announced starting with Shakespeare in the Park, Twelfth Night, followed by three plays at the Fergus Grand Theatre. The November play is a comedy called Don’t Talk to the Actors directed by Nancy Reaume followed by the Governor General Award winning Canadian play The Drawer Boy, directed by Julie Wheeler Bryant in February and concluding with the popular classic Little Women, directed by Stanson in May.
This Christmas, an additional special musical production called Christmas Cabaret is planned and is to be directed by Denise Gismondi.
Season tickets are now on sale at the Fergus Grand Theatre.
In order to prepare for this busy season ECT is asking the community for any help that can be given regarding space rental.
Contact Jim Monaghan at heartjim@hotmail.com or Stanson at debstanson@gmail.com for more information.
