WATCH ABOVE: The Edmonton theatre may have gone up in flames, but the curtain is set to rise again thanks to a local high school. Kendra Slugoski explains.
EDMONTON — A little more than two weeks after the Roxy Theatre was destroyed by fire, one of its plays is rising from the ashes.
Theatre Network’s upcoming run of Famous Puppet Death Scenes will hit the stage, as planned, thanks to a partnership with a local high school. The curtain will rise on the nearly two-week run of the play at Eastglen High School.
“It was a huge void as soon as that venue was gone,” said Eastglen’s vice principal Scott Poon, who remembers going to performances at the Roxy Theatre when he was a kid.
For the past two weeks, Theatre Network – which owned and operated the Roxy – has been scrambling to find venues for shows that were scheduled to play at the Roxy.
READ MORE: ‘Our goal is just to get back what we were’: Roxy Theatre on fire
Eastglen has a vibrant performing arts program, offering everything from dance to musical theatre and drama to acting. Poon says this will be a fantastic learning opportunity for students.
“I think our students are going to be very excited to see professional performers at their craft here in our building,” he said. “They get to see actors working their craft, they get to see the inner workings of a professional, professional performance.”
Theatre Network has agreed to put on workshops for performing arts students. The cast of Famous Puppet Death Scenes has also offered to put on free matinee shows for Eastglen students.
Famous Puppet Death Scenes runs from Feb. 3 to 22. For more information on the production, visit Theatre Network’s website.
On Wednesday, construction crews began demolition work on what remains of the old Roxy Theatre on 124 Street.