grand A look at the Grand Theatre’s role at the centre of local arts and culture By Jane Deacon On a bright morning in late March, Dianne Zemba’s office is a hive of activity buzzing with preparations for the evening’s two performances. Above her desk hangs a colour-coded calendar listing every show scheduled at the Grand Theatre over the coming months. From a three-day regional dance competition to a touring tribute music artist to community theatre, almost every date on the calendar features something. Zemba is quick to point out that it doesn’t show workshops, conferences and receptions — there’s a separate calendar for that. As theatre manager, Zemba understands first-hand
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what many Kingstonians may not know: the Grand Theatre is a very busy place. Throughout the year, the Grand Theatre team performs a finely tuned juggling act of producing performances by hundreds of artists while simultaneously providing venue rental space, artistic development opportunities and ticketing services. With rental opportunities available through the Regina Rosen Auditorium, Baby Grand and the Davies and Springer lounges, the Grand Theatre calendar is diverse. There are the ongoing “Grand Theatre Presents”
performances curated by cultural director Brian McCurdy, year-round shows by resident companies who have ongoing realationships with the Grand, and one-time venue rentals for touring performers and local arts and community groups. “We’re open to anybody who has a good idea, if the space is right for them,” says Zemba, who once helped co-ordinate an onstage wedding proposal at the theatre. Over the past year, the Grand has featured events for Kingston WritersFest, Kingston Canadian Film Festival and Queen’s Vogue Charity Fashion Show, to name just a few. It has also hosted
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