By Dylana Milobar

Western Canada Theatre aims to carry momentum after best selling production

Dec 22, 2018 | 9:47 AM

KAMLOOPS — After a hugely successful production of “ELF: The Musical”, Western Canada Theatre now has their sights set on the new year.

WCT Artistic Director James MacDonald says the previous biggest selling show they’ve put on was Mary Poppins, but now ELF tops that list.

“This one sold over 12,000 tickets, so thats a new high for us,” MacDonald explains, “Of course, we always put it in perspective, saying that’s about 15% of the population in the city. So that’s a lot of people whose lives have been touched by one production.”

Of those 12 thousand spectators, about half were under the age of 18.

Now 2 years at the helm of WCT, MacDonald says they’re always looking for productions that have a wide range of demographics to appeal to, and the musical based on the popular 2003 film starring Will Ferrell was exactly that.

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“One of the things that is kind of my mission in directing this company is trying to get people who aren’t used to going to the theatre, trying to acclimatize them to choose theatre as an alternative,” He explains, “I think theatre is for everybody. That’s the great thing about a show like ELF, is it really makes people relax and just have a good time at the theatre.”

MacDonald says they have high hopes for the rest of the season, with their latest comedic production- Meet My Sister, starting January 24th , until February 2nd.

“Its about two sisters who are gathering from very different parts of Canada to put their mother into a retirement home. And then a mysterious stranger shows up with a big secret for them,” He explains, “And its fun, its a very down to earth comedy with sophisticated humour.”

After that, Western Canada Theatre gears up for their production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.

For more information, go to their website, found here.