The Belfry Theatre鈥檚 upcoming season of programming 鈥� its 45th 鈥� will feature a sizable contribution from the BMO Financial Group.
During a Wednesday news conference to reveal the Belfry鈥檚 2019-20 season, the company announced that the financial-services provider has secured the naming rights to the Belfry鈥檚 second performance space, now known as the BMO Studio Theatre.
The $100,000 investment will be spread over five years, beginning with the upcoming season, which starts July 30 with Rick Miller鈥檚 BOOM X. The naming rights are only for the Gladstone Avenue theatre鈥檚 second stage.
鈥淭he BMO Financial Group has for many years been a key supporter of our programming through their sponsorships,鈥� said Ivan Habel, the Belfry鈥檚 executive director. 鈥淭he importance of this additional major gift to the upgrade and maintenance of an arts facility cannot be overstated. This beautiful heritage building provides the framework on which our art is built.鈥�
The funds will enable the not-for-profit theatre company to pay down the debt from installing a series of new seats in December. The money will also go toward upgrading lighting and sound equipment inside the renovated 19th-century Fernwood church.
The Belfry鈥檚 upcoming season will include contributions from more than 100 artists from across Canada. In addition to BOOM X (July 30-Aug. 18), productions on tap include Lucy Kirkwood鈥檚 The Children (Sept. 17-Oct. 13), Kat Sandler鈥檚 Bang Bang (Oct. 29-Nov. 24), Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe鈥檚 Every Brilliant Thing (Dec. 3-22), Tara Beagan鈥檚 The Ministry of Grace (Feb. 4-March 1) and Michael Healey鈥檚 1979 (April 21-May 17).
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