The Citadel Theatre is the major venue for theatre arts in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, located in the city's downtown core on Churchill Square. It is the third largest regional theatre in Canada.
History
It began in a former Salvation Army Citadel bought by Joseph H. Shoctor, James L. Martin, Ralph B. MacMillan, and Sandy Mactaggart. The theatre's first production to be performed was Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The theatre was founded on October 12, 1965 with its first opening night on November 10, 1965.[1] In its current location, The Citadel has the distinction of being the only venue where the Jule Styne musical Pieces of Eight has been produced.
The organization moved to its current building just off Churchill Square in 1976. Architect Barton Myers designed the structure. The building houses the Maclab, Shoctor, and Rice Theatres, Zeidler Hall, the Tucker Amphitheatre, and the Foote Theatre School.
The Maclab and Tucker are part of the Lee Pavilion, in the middle of Edmonton.
Queer History
The Citadel Theatre has been a supportive ally to Edmonton's 2SLGBTQ+ community. The theatre has been the workplace of three gay Artistic Directors,[1] and has staged many productions written by queer playwrights.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? written by the gay playwright[2] Edward Albee was the first production put on by The Citadel Theatre in 1965, three years after the play's Broadway debut in 1962.
The Citadel Theatre has produced many plays with queer themes such as The Glass Menagerie, Hosanna, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and The Gay Heritage Project.[3]
In 2006, The Citadel Theatre hosted their first Queer Prom event. In 2009, the annual event drew more than 100 youth to the theatre to celebrate the end of their school year.[4]
Artistic directors
- John Hulburt (1965-1966)
- Robert Glenn (1966-1968)
- Sean Mulcahy (1968-1973)
- John Neville (1973-1978)
- Peter Coe (1978-1981)
- Joseph H. Shoctor (1981-1984, as Producer)
- Gordon McDougall (1984-1987)
- William Fisher (1987-1989)
- Richard Dennison (1989-1990, as Producer)
- Robin Phillips (1990-1995, as Director General)
- Duncan McIntosh (1995-1999)
- Bob Baker (director)[5] (1999–2016)
- Daryl Cloran[3] (2016 - )
Productions
2025—2026 Production Season
Legally Blonde — Music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and Book by Heather Hach
Life of Pi — Based on the novel by Yann Martel, adapted for the stage by Lolita Chakrabarti
Vinyl Cafe: The Musical — Based on the Vinyl Cafe Stories by Stuart McLean, With Songs by Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal, Adapted for the Stage by Georgina Escobar
Death of a Salesman — By Arthur Miller
The Wizard of Oz — By L. Frank Baum, With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Casey and Diana — By Nick Green, Directed by Lana Michelle Hughes
Cyrano de Bergerac — By Edmond Rostand, Adapted by Jessy Ardern
Big Stuff — Written and Created by Matt Baram & Naomi Snieckus, Co-Created and Directed by Kat Sandler
Burning Mom — Written and Directed by Mieko Ouchi
Holiday Presentations
A Christmas Carol — By David van Belle, Based on the novel by Charles Dickens
Bear Grease (Holiday Special) — A LightningCloud production
References
- ^ a b "History". The Citadel Theatre. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
- ^ Morning Edition (June 6, 2011). "Playwright Albee Defends 'Gay Writer' Remarks". NPR.
- ^ a b Nicholls, Liz (2016-05-30). "Edmonton's Citadel Theatre announces Daryl Cloran as new artistic director". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
- ^ Sunger, Sonia (2009-06-07). "'Queer Prom' attracts youth from across North America". CTV News. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
- ^ Charlebois and Nothof, Gaetan and Anne (2016-01-18). "Baker, Bob". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Athabaska University. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
External links
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