Local venues scheduling entertainment acts, including Cirque du Soleil
By COLLIN GALLANT on March 15, 2022.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Bugs doing ballet, bull busting, tribute shows and even Ukrainian dancers are now the schedules of the City of Medicine Hat main entertainment venues as acts and audiences begin returning to a normal schedule. The pandemic closed theatres, kept some shows off the road and kept some audience members from buying tickets, but show bookers with the City of Medicine Hat are now rescheduling events and adding to the calendar this spring. “It’s really exciting and we’re looking forward to the restart and rebuild of the entertainment scene in Medicine Hat,” said Josie Doll, entertainment and events co-ordinator with the Esplanade and Co-op Place. On Monday, Cirque du Soleil announced a one-week engagement at Co-op Place in the Hat this June. The A capella group Straight No Chaser performed that evening at the Esplanade Theatre, with folk group, the Slocan Ramblers set for a Thursday show this week. Country star Johnny Reid will be at the larger Co-op Place in mid-April. Two more tribute artist shows were added to an already long lineup that includes smaller ballets, comedy events, and even the Ukrainian dance troupe, Cheremosh, on Nov. 5. The Professional Bullriding Tour will be at the arena on Oct. 15. “We’ve been getting back into rescheduling some of the events that were postponed,” said Doll. “We’re definitely excited to be adding new shows as well.” In another return, the Esplanade is also planning to announce its fall and winter lineup of larger shows with a traditional June announcement. Cirque du Soliel staged one of the first major shows at the city-owned arena and events centre after it opened in 2015 with the enthusiastically received show “Crystal.” “Ovo” involves 55 performers combining acrobatics and ballet in a show described as a “colourful intrusion into a new day in the life of insects.” Seven performances will be staged in Medicine Hat from June 1-7 after a similar run at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge. Tickets go on sale to the public on March 21. 15-14
