The Foster Festival 2019 Annual Report

OUR
STAFF
MESSAGE FROM OUR
ARTISTIC PRODUCER
This past year has been filled with change and feels like a transitional moment for
us. In what seems like an intermission between acts, we are using this pause in
production to review, restructure and rehearse for what may come. We have yet
to learn or fully appreciate the true impact that COVID-19 has had on our
performing arts institutions and our artists. Only time will tell.
In this report , you will learn more about the Economic & Social Impact The Foster
Festival, and the Arts Industry as a whole, has on our local communities and the
importance of that impact. Whatever comes next for our industry The Foster
Festival will persevere, continuing our commitment to our artists, our audiences
and our community.
Emily Oriold
MESSAGE FROM OUR BUSINESS MANAGER
Thirty-two years ago I sat in a dark theatre. The town, Niagara-on-the-Lake, the
theatre, The Royal George, and the play -- J.B. Priestley’s Dangerous Corner.
The show begins in darkness with a muffled gunshot and a scream. Lights
come up to reveal a drawing-room at a stylish country retreat. Four women
are seated listening to a radio play. A chance remark ignites a series of
devastating admissions, the disclosure of which, has tragic consequences. The
play ends with time slipping back to the start of the evening, the chance
remark not being made, the secrets stay hidden and the ‘dangerous corner’
avoided. I thought about that play early in my work to help the Foster Festival
recover from several unexpected events. But, like the play, we managed to
rewind time.
Now, COVID 19, the latest dangerous corner. As the lights come up on our
return to normal, Norm Foster’s newest world premiere is the only thing we
know for certain. There will be laughs, there will be comedy, there may even be
a gunshot and a scream!
Candice Turner-Smith
The Foster Festival 2019 Annual Report
01