True to its name, the Theatre Junction GRAND was founded as the largest theater in the Pacific Northwest in 1912. It hosted such iconic acts as the Marx Brothers and Fred Astaire in its earlier days and continues to serve as a cultural hub in downtown Calgary. Known today for its contemporary performing arts, the landmark venue showcases exciting theatre, dance, film, and music productions. Better still, you can enjoy dinner and a show at the Theatre Junction GRAND, which also celebrates community the culinary arts with its award-winning restaurant, Workshop Kitchen + Culture.
Located in the Arts Commons at Olympic Plaza, Max Bell Theatre (ECPA) opens an hour prior to a performance and closes half an hour post the show. Shaped like a horseshoe, the venue can accommodate 750 people. The management is quite strict about entry, so you better not be late, or you will be seated only after a break in the ongoing performance. The main floor, the mezzanine level and the first and second floor balconies complete the seating arrangement of the theater.
Hosting myriad performances yearly, Arts Commons is Canada's premier cultural space. The center is a six-level facility occupying a full city block in Downtown Calgary, and comprises many distinct event spaces like the Jack Singer Concert Hall and the Max Bell Theatre.
Part of the hugely successful Vertigo Theatre Centre is an immensely popular venue, The Studio. It is very flexible and can hold in excess of 130 people. This experimental theater is replete with black curtains, black seating, ample lighting and other necessary technological requirements. Concerts, auditions, workshops and many more such events can be held here. The Playhouse, also within Vertigo, is another venue used for events.
Since the early 1970s, this popular company has been offering Calgary's downtown population a little theater entertainment during lunch. Every noon, office-going crowd towed with brown bags, hurry to this small theater for an hour of live entertainment. There is lunch available at the theater for those who don't have their own, and guests are welcome to eat in their seats. The acts on stage is light theatrical fare mainly one act comedies but then again who wants heavy drama in the middle of their work day? Spend your break time at Lunchbox Theatre.
Located right in the center of downtown Calgary inside the Calgary Tower, the Vertigo Theater is comprised of two separate performance areas; The Studio and The Playhouse. Well known for its production of a mystery theater series, Vertigo Theater aims to entice the artistic sides of children with an emphasis on performances for a young audience. A stunning visual arts gallery, Vertigo Theater provides rental opportunities for all types of arts organizations that wish to showcase their works on a grand scale.
All forms of art, such as musicals, ballets, plays and concerts have been performed at the grand Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. This state of the art auditorium annually welcomes national as well as international artists, touring shows and also hosts the Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet. School graduations, community galas, trade shows and other special events are its other offerings.
Pumphouse Theatre has been in existence for many decades and has a rich cultural heritage. Situated in Downtown Calgary, this venue has proved to be extremely valuable for struggling artists and theater groups who can't afford many of the city's other rental venues. All year round, a number of festivals are held here for adults as well as children, ranging from 8 to 80 years! Drama camps are held every year during summer time for the kids of Calgary.