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Broadway Theatre (Saskatoon)

Broadway Theatre
Broadway Theatre SK1.jpg
Address 715 Broadway Avenue
Location Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Coordinates 52°07′06″N 106°39′23″W / 52.11833°N 106.65639°W / 52.11833; -106.65639Coordinates: 52°07′06″N 106°39′23″W / 52.11833°N 106.65639°W / 52.11833; -106.65639
Owner Friends of the Broadway Theatre, Inc.
Type Movie palace, Performing arts center
Genre(s) Art cinema
Seating type Fixed seats
Capacity 430
Construction
Built 1946
Opened December 5, 1946
Closed August 2, 1993 (re-opened October 1993)
Website
www.broadwaytheatre.ca

The Broadway Theatre is an art film and performance theatre located on Broadway Avenue in the Nutana neighborhood of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The theatre is Canada's only community-owned non-profit reparatory cinema.

The Streamline Moderne style movie theatre was designed by George Forrester with the architectural firm of Webster and Gilbert and opened on December 5, 1946. The theatre was Broadway's entertainment destination during the post-World War II years. It screened popular movies of the period and hosted some live musical performances on the stage in front of the movie screen. Following the neighbourhood's decline starting in the 1950s, the theatre fell into disrepute by the 1970s when it became an "adult" movie theatre. It was restored as an art film cinema and live performance venue during the 1980s. It was designated a municipal heritage property on April 14, 1997.

On August 2, 1993, the Broadway Theatre abruptly closed its doors. After a public fundraising drive, it was purchased by the Friends of the Broadway Theatre, Inc., a non-profit organization with charitable status dedicated to the preservation and renovation of the theatre. It reopened in October 1993, resuming its previous role. In addition to art, Canadian and regional cinema, the theatre also hosts some live music performances. Since 1993 it has been truly owned by the community (as a non-profit with charitable status, as well as recognition civically and federally as a heritage building).

After many difficult years of fundraising and major physical renovations in 2001-2004, the Broadway had been largely restored. From 2008 onwards, the theatres' various boards and staff worked hard to transition the Broadway from predominantly an art-house cinema to a full-fledged arts and culture centre.

As of 2015, the Broadway has won 5 awards from its own business district (including "Business of the Year"), as well as the 2014 Lieutenant Governors' Arts Award for "Arts Leadership in the Province".

The programming at the Broadway has shifted dramatically. As of 2015 the theatre welcomes 65-70,000 visitors each year for: +65 live music concerts, +55 live theatre/dance/comedy events, corporate/private/school events, hundreds of rental events and much more. In 2010 the Broadway became a buyer and producer of many live events-bringing almost 100 shows from then into 2015.


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