Centre In The Square
Centre In The Square is a live theatre and performing arts centre located on Queen Street in downtown Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
 Exterior of Centre In The Square | |
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| Location | 101 Queen Street North Kitchener, Ontario N2H 6P7 |
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| Owner | City of Kitchener |
| Capacity | 2,047 |
| Opened | 1980 |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Website | |
| Venue Website | |
The Centre is home to the Raffi Armenian Theatre. This 2,047 seat hall is the largest in Waterloo Region as well as the main venue for Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony performances. The Studio Theatre is the second performing space inside the building. It is a multipurpose space used for receptions, rehearsals, and intimate cabaret-style performances. Nearly 200,000 patrons visit The Centre annually.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery also resides within Centre In The Square and maintains separate administrative offices.
History
The Centre opened in September, 1980 and cost just over $11 million. The building was designed by Kitchener architecture firm Rieder, Hymmen and Lobban and earned international attention for its expansive view and acoustical superiority.[1]
The site was once home to the Emmanuel Bible College.
The Centre In The Square building is owned by the City of Kitchener and operated by a not-for-profit corporation. The Centre is currently governed by a 14 member board which includes the Mayor of Kitchener, three city councilors, and eight citizens appointed by city council.[2]
Programming
Regular season programming runs from September–June featuring numerous series. In accordance with the mission statement adopted in 2005, The Centre offers a wide range of shows in hopes to provide entertainment for all members of the local community. Series include:
- Broadway
- Comedy
- Songwriters
- Electric Thursdays
- Classic Albums Live
- Canadian Play
- K-W Symphony Signature
- K-W Symphony Pops
Magnetic North Theatre Festival
The annual Magnetic North Theatre Festival was held June 9–19, 2010 in Kitchener-Waterloo. The Centre was the main venue for festival performances, hosting Rick Mercer, Norman, and The Greatest Cities in the World.[3]
As part of the festival, Governor General Michaëlle Jean visited Centre In The Square on Monday, June 14, 2010 to host Art Matters, a public forum on the importance of the arts in creating better communities.[4]
Studio Theatre
The smaller performing space in The Centre has traditionally been used for K-W Symphony rehearsals and private functions. However, this is set to change by March 2011 as Centre In The Square has received $1.2 million in federal government stimulus funding.[5] The Studio Theatre will be retrofitted into a versatile space for up to 350 patrons.[6]
References
- "Centre in Square architect was a stickler for details". The Record Newspaper. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
- "Centre In The Square: History". Centre In The Square official site. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
- "Magnetic North Theatre Festival". Canadian Theatre Festival Society. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
- "Governor General visits Waterloo Region today". The Record Newspaper. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- "Local economy gets $77M kick-start". The Record Newspaper. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
- "Centre plans smaller theatre". The Record Newspaper. Retrieved 2010-05-28.