Village Theatre is a non-profit organization with charitable status. It operates year-round as a professional theatre company, hosting film, dance and theatre, acting as a regional Arts Centre. The bulk of its revenue comes from ticket sales, fund-raising events, donations and sponsorships.

The Hudson Village Theatre has recovered from last year’s financial difficulties and is on track to cover its costs and invest in some badly needed improvements this year. The organization has reduced administrative costs, paid off its debt and is on solid financial footing going forward. An innovative organizational structure, tight cost control and the willingness of donors to support a viable cultural organization have all helped to turn the corner. Kalina Skulska, who manages the administrative side of the theatre, discussed some of the changes with us.

The key was last year’s re-organization of the theatre structure. Instead of having an Artistic Director as chief executive, the board separated the artistic and administrative functions. Since the theatre can’t afford to hire a lot of staff, the board members help out on a volunteer basis and Kalina coordinates overall activities. An independent bookkeeper monitors operations and ensures that payments are only made when properly documented. Kalina and the board strive to provide a consistent and reliable administrative and financial framework for the work of the artistic personnel.

The key was last year’s re-organization of the theatre structure. Instead of having an Artistic Director as chief executive, the board separated the artistic and administrative functions. Since the theatre can’t afford to hire a lot of staff, the board members help out on a volunteer basis and Kalina coordinates overall activities. An independent bookkeeper monitors operations and ensures that payments are only made when properly documented. Kalina and the board strive to provide a consistent and reliable administrative and financial framework for the work of the artistic personnel.

On the fund-raising side, new board members brought in new contacts who had not previously donated, and were not affected by the “donor fatigue” that had been a problem with those theatre supporters who had helped keep the theatre going for more than ten years. Kalina and the board found that even previous donors were again ready to support the theatre once it was financially stable.

While the theatre was always busy during the summer, the past few years it only saw the occasional professional production and the panto during the rest of the year. With the new emphasis on community integration, the theatre is used fully all year. A side-effect of this turning toward community involvement has been increasing support of the theatre from local residents who support the local cultural organizations. When their favourite group also uses the theatre, they turn into Village Theatre supporters.

The first annual general meeting of Village Theatre members under the new organization was held Mid-March. As promised last year, Village Theatre has opened its membership and has over 30 members, including some from the greater Hudson area who are not current or former board members. Anyone can join as a member - you just have to ask for a membership form at the Village Theatre box office.

Ambitious Plans

The Hudson Village Theatre’s bread and butter continues to be light summer comedy but the board, Kalina and Heather want to bring bigger names to Hudson as well.

Last year the theatre presented Diana Panton with Guido Basso and this year Norm Foster will star in his own show. Greenwood may bring a very well-known writer in as part of StoryFest next fall and the theatre has some other possibilities they are pursuing.

Some of these shows are expensive but there are people who regard last year’s $100 Diana Panton concert as one of the most exciting performances they have seen at the theatre. Such shows allow local residents to see big stars in an amazingly intimate setting. Normally you would have to go to Place des Arts for similar performances but Village Theatre is bringing them here, thanks to an ideal and attractive venue, personal contact and assured audiences.

Another Village Theatre initiative involves presenting shows for younger audiences. The children’s series has been very successful but now the theatre would like to try out some shows that might be of interest to students and young adults.

Look for some more gritty, socially relevant or unconventional shows in the off-season. The theatre may find that shows designed to attract such a new audience will bring in older residdents who like challenging theatre as well.

2013 Professional Summer Season

Village Theatre artistic director Heather Markgraf-Lowe spent last year scouting out new works and looking for the best possible match to Hudson audiences. The four shows below are the results of her efforts and feedback so far is good. Audience members can see a lot to like among these choices.

Heather saw this show presented in a tent near Picton in Prince Edward County past Kingston last summer. It’s going to star local professional actors Glen Bowser and Karen Cromar, the latter seen at Village Theatre in last year’s “Ned Durango Comes to Big Oak.” Innovative staging, sympathetic roles and the actors taking on a wide variety of characters make this an entertaining piece of theatre.

Glen and Karen start by playing the older couple who rent out their farm house and whose tenant operates a marijuana grow op there. As other characters become involved, they play them as well. The piece is fun, charming and full of very Canadian themes.

After last year’s hit musical, “Back to ‘59” sold out many shows, it made sense to bring in another musical of classic pop. Where last year’s show focused on the singing and dancing of the performers, “Summer of Love” is more about the music.

A live band performs hit songs from the sixties with the musical numbers linked by a narrative. The four musicians handle diverse styles such as the ballads of Simon and Garfunkle and the music of the Doors. The four singers take on Nancy Sinatra and Petula Clarke as well as Janis Joplin and the Mamas and the Papas.

Audiences will be treated to a nostalgic look at the sixties, the music of the times, and the events that shaped the music.

It’s quite a coup to have Norm Foster come to Village Theatre to star in his own show. As of publication time, some of those in the know were getting ready to reserve tickets. With only eight shows, Village Theatre Flex Pass holders wanting to see all four shows will be crowding in.

The play is based on a simple premise. A successful but self-absorbed and opinionate writer, played by Norm Foster, on impulse invites his housekeeper of 28 years to tell him her life story over a drink. He doesn’t even know her first name although she spends every day tending to his needs.

Several glasses of whisky and a $100 bottle of chablis later, the social distance between them has lessened but the road has been filled with humour, surprises and social commentary. A play with insights, funny repartee, clever observations and references to class distictions, it is an excellent vehicle for the author and an entertaining piece for his audiences.

This play, like “Harvest” at the start of the season, will be directed by Artistic Director Heather Markgraf-Lowe. Starring Montreal actors Joanna Noyes, Bronwen Mantel and Adrien DesBiens-Benn, it also features a large Winnebago that the ladies use to escape their pending retirement. Much fun is in the offing as the ladies pile on the adventures, a kind of older Thelma and Louise without the desperation.

As the young man joins them, things seem to go even better at first but he may not be who he seems, and the ladies learn a lesson, but carry on with their lives.

Years ago, someone from Hudson retired, sold their house and bought a boat to sail around the Caribbean, so the idea is not all that far fetched. But this particular Winnebago is bigger than that boat was. The show’s vehicle will be modelled on the one shown above, a local Motor Home of generous proportions.

Village Theatre and Social Media

Village Theatre has a Facebook page with web address an easy-to-remember facebook.com/hudsonvillagetheatre. It has details and updates on shows, comments from audience members and postings from Village Theatre staff.

You can see the main page without having a facebook account but it will ask you to log in if you want to see more information, post a message yourself or leave a comment.

The Facebook page is the responsibility of Kels Deegan who set it up and is moderating the site. She also posts nuggets of information such as an example of a British April Fool’s joke from 1856 or trailers of the latest Film Society movie.