Lunchbox Theatre’s 35th Anniversary Party

Rounding out the pre-weekend party circuit was Lunchbox Theatre’s 35th 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 standup as expected, serving as emcee.

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 talents to sit in City Hall for a living. Much less depressing was the recognition of four 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.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Eddies+brew+good+times/3148191/story.html#ixzz0qqcnQgk5