Kingston is working to make its entertainment scene a little bigger and better. With the recent addition of the K-Rock Centre and the re-opening of the Grand Theatre, the Limestone City is hoping to attract larger acts as well as larger audiences to town.
Venues in town are working with the City of Kingston to launch Kingston Arts & Entertainment week as a way to promote the beginning of many venues’ seasons and draw attention to the local arts scene. The week includes high profile performance from rock to opera, a one-man show called MacHomer that draws on MacBeth and Simpsons characters and a tour of local downtown art galleries.
Brian McCurdy, the cultural director for the City of Kingston, said the week has been promoted locally as a way of sparking momentum and enthusiasm for the city’s larger venues and entertainment. With the three-year construction project of Kingston’s prime theatre venue, McCurdy said the push was needed.
“I think after being closed for three years, [the Grand Theatre is] going to have to build an audience,” he said.
“Looking at everybody’s schedule, we were opening this week, we thought we could get together on this and pool our resources and get more of a profile.” Tonight, rock-country-pop queen Sheryl Crow performs followed up tomorrow evening by the illustrious performers Blue Man Group at the K-Rock Centre. Cape Bretoner and fiddler Natalie MacMaster will also grace the Grand Theatre’s stage Sept. 25.
“Obviously the majority of people will be local, but we’re hoping to get people from out of town as well,” McCurdy said.
McCurdy said this week should remind people that Kingston is a viable entertainment destination, even outside of the summer months.
Although the week doesn’t include any student performances, tickets are available half-price on the day of performances at the Grand Theatre, McCurdy said.
“I think it’s a really good way to kick off the year, focus on what’s going on in the city, which is something we’ll try and do on an annual basis.”
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