Construction may start on Persephone Theatre's New Building in October
September 14, 2006, Saskatoon StarPhoenix by Cam Fuller
Construction could start at the end of October on Persephone Theatre's new building on the riverbank.
"Tenders are just on the verge of going out," board chair David Gerecke said Wednesday.
As rain fell, a large crowd that included a unique mix of politicians and actors took refuge in the Royal Canadian Legion - the Plan B location for the theatre's sod-turning, which was going to be held outdoors at River Landing.
The target date for opening is Nov. 15, 2007. Persephone Theatre will be the first building on the newly developed portion of riverbank. The $11-million project is funded by the federal and provincial governments ($2.5 million each), the City of Saskatoon ($1 million) and the Ellen Remai Foundation ($1 million). A campaign to raise the final $4 million from the general public is underway.
"A lot of people will be hearing from us and a lot already have," said Gerecke.
Persephone will eventually sell its current space, a renovated church on Rusholme Road. The new building will feature a main theatre seating 450, all within close proximity to the stage, and a multi-purpose black box space to rent to other arts groups. The lobby, with a river view, will be big enough for banquets and weddings - and, for theatre patrons, there will finally be "some elbow room at intermission," said Gerecke.
Artistic director Tibor Feheregyhazi provided comic relief at the speech-laden gathering, promising wider seats to fit the growing audience.
"Our bums are wider. It's not only 19 inches, but some of them 22," he said to laughter.
Persephone looked to its past and found star power in appointing Janet Wright as honorary fundraising campaign chair.
The Corner Gas star co-founded Persephone with members of her family 30 years ago. Although the province isn't recognized by outsiders for its cultural side, it was teachers with a love of the arts who influenced the Wrights.
"We grew up here and all four kids in our family became actors," Wright said. She praised Feheregyhazi for his passion. "Passion to me is the greatest thing you could ever have in a human being, and he's it."
Western Economic Diversification Minister Carol Skelton spoke as a politician and a grandmother - one who only recently received a call from an excited granddaughter thrilled to say that she had won the lead role in Anne of Green Gables.
"I can't tell you how exciting this is for me," said Skelton. Persephone supporters were beaming after silver shovels turned the earth in a ceremonial bucket.
"I'm so thrilled," said actor-writer Andrea Menard. "This is my neighbourhood. I live in Riversdale. I get to walk to Persephone now. How cool
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