In September 2006, THE GRAND Theatre downtown transformed into 1930’s Berlin. As one of the guests that evening at Theatre Junction’s first fundraiser, I can attest to the fact that Theatre Junction knows how to throw a party!
Calgary came out in their best 1930’s dress, and looked incredible doing so. In addition to music and performance, 2006’s event also feature a buffet from in house restaurant Velvet, and I honestly can not adequately describe how awesomely delicious it was. I had an absolute blast and cannot wait to attend again!
And attend I shall, on April 12th when we head east to 1930s Shanghai, which was known as “The Paris of the East” at the time. Great leaps in arts, culture, design and architecture came to fruition at the same time as opium, prostitution and gambling were running rampant. A powerful foreign minority descended on the city to take advantage of its openness and exploit its darker side...
Hosted by Citytv’s Jill Belland and Theatre Junction’s Mike Tan, Shanghaied includes provocative performances by The Dandi Orchestra, Canadian Wing Chun Kung-Fu Association, The Kabuki Guns, and many more of Calgary’s fantastic performing artists, along with a welcome libation, sumptuous food, and non-stop dancing until the wee hours.
This year also features a fun additional fundraiser, the Lucky Dragon Lottery. On the night of the party, each lottery ticket holder will choose a sealed Lucky Dragon envelope and win the prize listed inside. Only 100 Lucky Dragon Lottery tickets will be sold and everyone is guaranteed a prize! At only $100 per ticket, and with over $20,000 worth of prizes, it’s a worthwhile investment for a worthy cause. Prizes include from health care and spa packages, dinner packages, and passes to attractions like Calaway Park and the Calgary Opera Grave Gala. Also up for grabs are a week long stay at the Edelweiss resort in Whitefish, Montana, a pair of Personal Video Recorders from Shaw, and a Red Lantern Party Gift certificate from Wild Ginger, each prize valued at $1000 or more. Check out the full list of prizes on The Grand’s website and get your ticket before they are gone.
If you have not yet attended a show or event at THE GRAND, you are missing out. After extensive renovations (yet still maintaining much of its history from 1912) this Calgary landmark is truly beautiful. Theatre Junction saved this legendary venue, which long before it was a golf centre and movie theatre that hosted many legends including George Burns, Fred Astaire, The Marx Brothers and many others.
A night out costs a lot these days by the time you include dinner, entertainment, and dancing. At $125 per ticket, you can enjoy all of this included in one night, and support a great cause – one of Canada’s leading independent theatre companies and a place of growth for emerging Canadian artists. So dig out your feathers, fedoras and fishnets once again and get Shanghaied...at The GRAND.
Theatre Junction Presents
Shanghaied
Saturday April 12th, 8pm
608 1st street SW
www.atthegrand.ca
