A centennial celebration

The Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod is turning 100 years old

Since 1912, the Empress Theatre has taken centre stage on Fort Macleod’s historic main street. July 29, 2012, will mark the theatre’s 100th anniversary, and on that evening, the theatre will open with a centennial play highlighting its history. Also, there will be the official release of Reign of the Empress—a book based on the history of the Empress Theatre.

On July 1, 2012, the Empress Theatre will be sharing in the festivities of Canada Day. Following the 40th anniversary celebration of the RCMP Musical Ride at The Fort Museum, which is located next to the theatre, a musical play entitled That Men May Fly will open at the theatre. According to Brent Hutchinson, executive director at the Empress Theatre, this play will reflect on the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan when it took place in Fort Macleod and southern Alberta in the early 1940s.

The legacy lives on

The Empress Theatre hasn’t changed much over the years. A great deal of effort has been made to keep the theatre as close to its original state as possible. Tours of the theatre and its historic dressing rooms are available in the summer, and can be arranged at other times throughout the year as well.

Visitors to the Empress Theatre may even catch a glimpse of Ed the Ghost. Ed is believed by some to be the spirit of Dan Boyle—who used to be the manager of the theatre—or perhaps a former janitor or someone else from the past. Ed has appeared in different ways to patrons and employees of the theatre.

Whether it is presenting live plays, music concerts or community dance recitals, the Empress Theatre lives up to its long-standing reputation for providing exceptional entertainment.

“It’s a fascinating theatre,” said Hutchinson.