- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

The Owen Sound Little Theatre (OSLT) bought the Roxy Theatre in 1986 and the former movie, opera and vaudeville venue has truly grown into its role as a performing arts centre for the area.  I visited this week to chat with Matt Evans about what's new inside the Roxy.

This year Evans has taken on a newly created role at the Roxy - Executive Director - with strong administrative support from assistant Melissa Monk and long-time Roxy staffer Collene Bullock doing what they each do best.

Evans wants to sell tickets to shows and get “bums in seats” sure – there are bills to be paid. But he knows that the heart of the Roxy has always been its volunteers, logging over 25,000 hours a year in their home theatre. Evans' goal is to break down the barriers and get more people involved IN the shows, as more than just an audience.

The opportunities are so varied – from set building and painting, stage managing and props, to make-up and costumes, singing, acting and directing. Volunteers make use of their particular skills, or learn things that are brand-new to them. Evans wants people of all ages to know how it feels to be part of “this creative thing we do together”, working with experienced mentors who want to share their passion.

“Where else can you get the opportunity to try your hand at being a director? Or build a life size working model?”

Evans spent decades in volunteer management as ED of Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving – an organization with a shoestring budget and a small team of highly-motivated volunteers. He understands the process of welcoming new volunteers, learning their interests, partnering them with good mentors, and following up. He knows first-hand what young people can do when they're given the opportunities and experience, and he would really like to draw on students, both from the high schools and Georgian College.

The OSLT puts on four of its own plays a year and produces or co-produces up to a dozen more shows a year under “Roxy presents” - everything from children's programming and concerts to circus and original plays. The rest of the year the theatre is full of rentals, school productions, tributes, fundraisers, community events, films and art shows, and an outstanding children's theatre camp.

Plays for OSLT production are brought forward for consideration for future seasons by would-be directors and reviewed by a play-reading committee (another volunteer opportunity)  for consideration for future seasons. This year's playbill has been chosen to help you “turn off your brain and just laugh” according to OSLT President Corry Lapointe. The season includes a fast-paced Canadian hockey comedy, a Tony award-winning musical and a Norm Foster play with “just enough sex and plot twists to keep your interest piqued.”

As is their tradition, the opening of the OSLT season was celebrated Thursday evening with bubbly in the lobby, greetings from the board and jokes from the mayor, and a ceremonial on-stage ribbon cutting. The 58th season opened with Noises Off , a crazy laugh-out-loud bedroom farce with “more slamming doors than a divorce lawyer's office” and a set that gets its own applause.

Noises Off runs until November 24.  If you missed the first week, or want to see those amazing physical stunts again, tickets are available online or at the box office.