Blue Bridge to take on “The Roxy” @Blue_Bridge #yyjarts

Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre, a five-year-old Victoria, BC based professional theatre company is launching a nearly $2 million capital campaign to purchase and renovate the historic Roxy Classic Theatre. “Blue Bridge is committed to offering significant creative, administrative and production opportunities to early career theatre artists, and the Roxy will broaden our ability to do this, while also continuing as an alternate cinema for the enjoyment of local audiences,” said board president Grania Litwin. The Roxy is a heritage landmark in Quadra Street Village, an area undergoing significant revitalization. “Our intention is to add to the growing vitality of this neighbourhood with our exciting new initiative."

Producing Artistic Director and Blue Bridge founder Brian Richmond explained the new theatre will be “a mixed use live theatre/cinema that will play host to all forms of performing arts as well as continuing in its role as one of Victoria's most affordable centres for film. The Roxy will continue to offer the second run, highly affordable movies that its audiences have grown accustomed to. In addition, the long term vision for the theatre is to carve a unique place for itself in Canada through exploring the relationship between 20th century film and theatre. Classic theatre meets classic cinema,” he quipped. “The possibilities are both exciting and breathtaking.”

Thanks to the generosity of lead donors Shauna Baird and Michael Salomon BBRT has 30 months to raise the funds to secure its own space. BBRT can move into the Roxy immediately and begin the renovations so that the space can be used and rented by November 2013. Blue Bridge's building committee chair Corny O'Connell (Portfolio Manager, National Bank Financial) said ”This is a very exciting addition to the Victoria arts community while at the same time offering us the chance to create a much stronger foundation for the financial stability of our multi-award winning theatre.” An internationally successful actor and director, Baird played a seminal role in the successful acquisition and renovation of the historic Grand Theater for Theatre Junction in Calgary. Raised in Victoria, Baird recently returned from a 7 year stay in Paris with her husband, entrepreneur Michael Salomon and their three daughters. She and her husband decided to support BBRT in such a substantial way because: “We believe when you move somewhere you dig deep and put down roots. I am passionate about the theater and wanted to be a part of ensuring the growth and health of this brave local company. The potential for The Roxy as a home for BBRT and a center for small to medium sized performance companies in Victoria is very exciting.”

Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre will continue to stage its core summer season offerings at the McPherson Theatre, said Litwin. “But this development means we will be able to expand our choice of plays and productions to include works from more eclectic playwrights which we are unable to produce at present and to make these offerings available on a year round basis. We are thrilled to be able to offer lower ticket prices for productions at the Roxy, and that in turn will hopefully engage younger audiences and allow them to enjoy BBRT’s award-winning productions and special activities as well as those of our guest presenters.”

Interested donors and community partners can call the Blue Bridge Rep offices at 250-385-4462 for more information.

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