It's Showtime at the Astor Theatre

LIVERPOOL, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 7, 2014) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Astor Theatre Society will receive multi-year funding of $24,000 ($12,000 in 2014-2015 and $12,000 in 2015-2016) through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund.

Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Member of Parliament (South Shore-St. Margaret's), made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

With this funding, the Astor Theatre Society will present its performing arts series "This is Canada" in Liverpool's only performance venue. From September to March in both seasons, the series will present an average of six different shows by professional artists from four provinces. These are artists who might not normally come to Nova Scotia's South Shore. Each series includes live performances in various forms of music, dance and theatre. The Astor Theatre Society will continue to conduct outreach and audience development work, particularly with young audiences, and will work closely with the local amateur theatre group.

Quick Facts

• The Astor Theatre is proud to be Nova Scotia's oldest performing arts venue. In 2002, the Astor Theatre celebrated 100 years of entertainment on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.
• Built in 1902 as part of the historic Town Hall, the theatre was known as the Liverpool Opera House. Its stage hosted touring and local shows until 1917, when silent films were introduced.
• The Astor has played host to many touring artists, including Rita MacNeil, Natalie MacMaster, Tommy Hunter, George Fox, Mr. Dressup, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, to name a few.

Quotes

"Our Government's support of the arts and culture sector ensures that Canadians have access to events in their own community. The Astor Theatre is an important asset to Liverpool, having provided entertainment in the community for more than 110 years."

-The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

"The Liverpool Theatre Society will once again put together a great performance series to delight Liverpool's residents and visitors. The performing arts series 'This is Canada' showcases some of Canada's best professional artists."

-Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Member of Parliament (South Shore-St. Margaret's)

"The Canada Arts Presentation Fund makes a huge difference in the variety and availability of performers for our patrons. Now we are able to present performers that normally would not be available to us and give our patrons an experience they might not normally get. Whether storytellers from the Yukon, Inuit singers from Nunavut, or Québécois performers, we now have the financial ability to look further afield in Canada and bring the best our entire country has to offer to our doorstep."

-Chris Ball, Manager, Astor Theatre.

Associated Links

Canada Arts Presentation Fund

Astor Theatre Association

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