It was February 11, 1992 when the Key City Theatre opened its doors for the first time, a dream that originally started in the 1970s.

Since that opening date an estimated 500,000 tickets have been sold to more than 2,000 performances. On February 18 the Key City Theatre will celebrate those 20 years with a gala celebration starring singers who came out of the Canadian Tenors and the pop-opera group sensation Destino, the Kimberley Dance Academy, local composer William Cunningham, Jazz Council pianist Tim Plait, and a few surprises not yet announced. A wine reception will round out the elegant evening.

Expo Legacy funding was key to the theatre’s original construction, as was a commitment from the City of Cranbrook, School District No. 2 (the district at the time), dozens of local businesses, service clubs, and many citizens of the region, all enabling the building to open debt free.

Though the building is owned by School District No. 5, the Key City Theatre Society, a non-profit organization, runs the facility, programming and renting out more than 140 days every year. The Key City Theatre remains ‘in the black’ unlike many non-profits in the province faced with government cuts and the loss of gaming funding. “We have terrific sponsors like Falkins Insurance, and more than 300 Members and donors who support us”, said Managing Director, Patrick LeBlanc.

“We are still underfunded and understaffed and sometimes we have to work 15 hour days but we muddle through though at times it gets exhausting. Most community theatres in the province have twice as many staff and receive double the funding from their towns. We struggle with that reality every day. We wouldn’t be able to even open our doors if it wasn’t for the dozens of volunteers who help us on every show.”

The list of performers who have played the Key City Theatre over the years is like a who’s who of Juno Award winners that includes Natalie McMaster, Ian Tyson, Canadian Brass, Barney Bentall, Holly Cole, Alex Cuba, Nylons, Sylvia Tyson, Jeff Healey, Murray McLaughlin, Tommy Hunter, Matthew Good, Colin James, Sarah McLaughlin, Powder Blues Band, Terri Clark, and the list goes on and on including esteemed international like the upcoming Liona Boyd and Celtic Tenors, and American artists such as last season’s Roy Clark and Johnny Winter.

LeBlanc equates the theatre’s success with programming a variety of entertainment. “Each season we try to set up a series of shows that include

theatre, dance, and a variety of musical genres. We also try to use B.C. performers like Dean Brody and it’s great to be able to give opportunities to emerging artists. I think it’s great when the audience is willing to take a risk with a performer they’ve never heard of. This season’s Jill Barber show was a huge success.

The Key City Theatre’s twentieth anniversary season runs until the end of June. They’ve already sold out half a dozen shows and expect there to be more. Tickets for the February 18, 7:30 p.m. Gala Celebration are $35 plus tax and are available at the Key City Theatre box office or by calling 250-426-7006.

Key City Theatre

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