Frontier Thespian- So long, we hardly knew you! When did you take over at LBT and what were your first challenges?

Rona Waddington I took over Lunchbox in winter of 2005. The company had some signicant challenges facing it, but there wasn't anywhere on the planet that I wanted to be more.  I was extremely excited by its mandate, it's grassroots role in the community (making theatre accessible and convient, both financially and geographically) and also by the character of its patrons.  I was fascinated by the prospect of geting to meet and work with people who made theatre part of their regular working days, who crammed it into their busy daily schedules!  I couldn't think of a better audience to serve. 

I expected my biggest challenges to be the reimagining of the artistic life of the theatre and also finding my feet in the Calgary artistic community, but these things actually happened quickly and easily.  Audiences responded immediately and enthusiastically to our new programming and the arts community was incredibly welcoming and supportive from the beginning.  So the first big challenge was the venue issue - both the practical side of having to find a new space in the hottest real estate market in the country, and the psychological and morale challenge of having to suddenly readjust my vision and plans for the company, and to reconcile myself to the fact that I could not plan effectively for the future of the theatre until we had locked in a space.  I'm a big planner.  That was very difficult for me.

FT Did you know before you accepted the job that the theatre was losing it's space?

RW No. 

FT What's the space situation now? I've heard that LBT may have space in the new Encana building, but that's two years down the road.

RW We've been working very hard on the venue search, we are in a good place.  It would be premature to say anything now, but we do hope to make a public announcement within the next few months regarding our relocation plans.

FT What shape is LBT in? Are you optimistic for its future?

RW LBT's in great shape.  The artistic rejeuvenation that has taken place over our last two years has significantly increased our audience, as well as attracted many new donors and sponsors.  Our books are balanced and we are going into a wildly exciting year, artistically - with seven world premieres!  Our patrons are responding brilliantly to this upcoming season.  So, yes, overall I am very optimistic.

FT What can concerned members of the community do to help?

RW Well, come out and see our shows!  That's the ideal way to show support and it's fun, too!   Sending money and bags of gold helps.  As does arranging for free massages for the staff!  But seriously...standing up and being counted in the audience means the most to us.  And please keep Lunchbox in your hearts.  At 32 years old it is the longest running lunchtime theatre in the world!!!  It's a pretty great thing to have in Calgary.

FT Beyond supporting the theatre by attending, is there anything else theatre community members can do?

RW In regard to supporting the theatre, if you mean some kind of organized advocacy on behalf of the public, there may be a need for that a little bit farther down the line. The theatre is gratefully aware that the community is behind them and will certainly put the word out if and when that type of support becomes helpful.

FT What's next for you? Where are you going, when do you start?

RW I'm going to a company that's very large and very healthy and growing quickly.  It serves a huge number of patrons per year, employs a huge number of artists and produces an extraordinary amount of theatre.  I'm a little curious, because this will be the first time in my career that I haven't been hired to manage a 'theatre in transition'.  My last two theatres were sort of 'turnarounds', so it will be a new experience to walk into a theatre that's already running smoothly on its path.  Ha!  I've probably jinxed it now.  Anyway, I expect that comes with a whole different set of problems.  

FT When will you let us know just what theatre it is you're going to? People are going to want to send you resumes!

RW Have you heard of Drayton Entertainment? It owns 6 theatres in Ontario, produces 22 plays a year for 220,000 patrons per year, and has a budget of 7 million. I will be the Artistic and Executive Associate of that organization.

FT Thanks, Rona. Again, all the best for the future. We're sorry to see you go.

RW Thank you too, Grant.  I do hope to be back out this way as often as possible.  Think of me from time to time and thank you personally for your professional support throughout these two years.   I wish I had got to know you better.