Imagine: a New Theatre Project in Cold Lake

Beantrees introducing a new theatre project to Cold Lake

Craig Konechny and Teresa Pettit presented to Cold Lake City Council their plans for a new theatre. The theatre can be used to stage productions; while the venue will be multi-use, with 100 seat (or greater) gallery. Owner of Beantrees Cafe, Konechny explains Beantrees and Grand Palour Productions (Teresa Pettit) are partnering up on the project, that’ll also have a after-school theatre program for kids, ranging in ages.

“Most importantly, we’re looking to drive the youth in our community,” Konechny explains there will be youth drama classes held at the venue. “That’ll entail a four-month program in the spring and in the fall. We’re going to do a summer camp too.” Children of all ages,  split into age group categories, “are going to learn everything about theatre and eventually come together and write a script.” Konechny says the goal for the kids’ drama classes is to put on full theatre productions; with set design and costumes.”

We’re really going to take the flavour of Beantrees. – Craig Konechny owner Beantrees Cafe

To get the program going, first they needed a venue. “We are building a live stage, called the Grand Parlour. It’s going to be a small, intimate theatre type of venue,” Konechny says the venue won’t just be used for theatre projections. The pair envision it to be used for live music, “there’s a lot of things were looking to have in that space.”

Pettit has a lot of experience, she’s put on a similar program through the MRFC, where kids came together, wrote a script and put on a production. “That script, that they wrote, which was called ‘The Charming Tale’. They submitted it to a playwright script contest and out of 1200 entries, they came in tenth.”

The pair made a request to the City of Cold Lake to assist with funding the youth program side of the project, through an Arts & Culture Grant of $75,000. The City will be taking the request into their budget deliberations in November. Konechny says the have a venue in mind and will be announcing more details on the project over the of the next couple weeks.