Lunchbox Theatre’s 35th Anniversary Party

By KELLY DOODY SAT, JUN 12 2010

Rounding out the pre-weekend party circuit was Lunchbox Theatre’s 35^th Anniversary bash on Thursday night at the Auburn Saloon.

June 20, 1975 was the date founders Margaret and Bartley Bard were given the green light to fire up Calgary’s third official theatre company (after Theatre Calgary and Alberta Theatre Projects), and from that day forward, what is now the world’s longest-running lunchtime theatre company has never looked back.

Lunchbox founders, staff, volunteers, donors, sponsors, actors and fans came out in droves to celebrate the big 35, with actress Karen Johnson-Diamond breaking out her A-game stand-up as expected, serving as emcee extraordinaire.

Deputy Mayor Brian Pincott represented on behalf of the big wigs, reminding the crowd of both the importance of the arts to our city, and that he’d worked in every last local theatre other than Lunchbox before trading in his four-time Betty Award-winning lighting design talentsto sit in City Hall for a living.

Much less depressing was the recognition of four fabulous volunteers who’ve given 25 tireless years (and counting) as Lunchbox Theatre volunteers, and a lesson in the theatre company’s history told by general manager Leslie Biles and newly appointed artistic director Pamela Halstead.

Overall, the 35-year timeline tells of countless actors, directors, productions, location changes, fundraising campaigns, award nominations, award wins and a started-from-scratch theatre company this city should be very, very proud to call their own.

Clem Martini - University of Calgary’s Drama Department Head and Lunchbox Theatre’s most famed playwright

Calgary arts and culture crusader - Deputy Mayor Brian Pincott

Actress, educator, mother, improviser, emcee - it’s the famed Karen Johnson-Diamond

Lunchbox artistic director Pamela Halstead and general manager Leslie Biles show off Lunchbox Theatre’s 35-year-old certificates of incorporation

DJ Kelly, Lunchbox’s marketing and communications guru and chair of the Calgary Performing Arts Alliance

25-year Lunchbox volunteer Wyn Bailey

Lunchbox Theatre’s fantastic founders, Bartley and Margaret Bard