Markham Stouffville Review, May 2024

8 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY
MAY 2024
Theatre GM takes his final Markham bow with the end of this season
BY JEFF JONES
This May not only marks the end of the
23/24 Diamond Season at the Flato Markham
Theatre, but it also brings general manager
Eric Lariviere’s 15 years of service to a close.
Since 2009, Lariviere’s guidance,
wisdom, and influence have been both
unmistakable and invaluable when it comes
to the theatre’s stability and growth but it’s
in his leadership and community building
that his legacy will be felt as he moves on to
new challenges at Kitchener’s Centre in the
Square.
“I’m very grateful for what we’ve accomplished,”
Lariviere says.”My wish is that
our work here continues to grow.”
One way to consider the lasting impact
of Lariviere on the theatre and the arts community
in Markham is to look at the final two
shows of his final season as GM. They span
multiple demographics generationally and
culturally while also being broadly entertaining
shows with critical acclaim.
On May 4 at 4 p.m., the 360 All-Stars
bring their Urban Jungle performance to
town. The performance fuses performance
artistry with street culture and manages to
merge BMX, basketball, breakdancing, beatboxing,
acrobatics, and drumming. The cast
is full of world champion and world recordholding
athletes and artists. After 2000 shows
worldwide, they still receive raves.
“It’s such a unique show that I hope will
attract some folks who might not normally
come to the theatre,” Lariviere says. “It’s
quite spectacular.”
After proudly hosting the world premiere
of Ballet Jorgen’s Anne of Green Gables The
Ballet in 2019, the show has become a hit and
a fresh take on the Canadian classic. The show
succeeds by using the famous imagination and
energy of its title character as a way of merging
the story with the world of dance. This May 17
at 8 p.m. and May 18 at 2 p.m., the show returns
home to thrill Markham audiences again.
“This show is such a good way to end the
season…and my time in Markham,” Lariviere
says. “Ballet Jorgen is such an important
company, and they’ve managed to merge their
art with one of the most beloved and classic
Canadian stories out there. It’s wonderful to
finish with a show where I know the whole
community is coming.”
Much like these final two Diamond Season
shows of his tenure, Lariviere has focused
on engaging, discipline-merging, and demographic-breaking
shows to help unite disparate
parts of the arts community in his successful,
15-year quest to broaden the appeal of live
professional performance in Markham.
“I tried to reposition the local or municipal
operation at the theatre into a cultural hub and
a leading performing arts centre in the province,”
Lariviere says. “We did it by strategizing
around the idea that live arts matter, potentially,
to everyone, no matter the background.”
With Markham’s diversity index sitting
around 82 per cent, this mission is still
relevant. “It’s more relevant than ever,” says
Lariviere.
Another important and lasting aspect of
Lariviere’s leadership is the team he built and
Eric Lariviere
maintained at the theatre.
“You know, it’s like a family,” acting
GM Scott Hill says. “It’s been a privilege
to work as part of the team that Eric built
around him.”
“I’m telling you, the people you work
with are what makes it happen,” Lariviere
says. “You’re only as good as the team.
We’ve been blessed.”
This attitude and ethic that pervade the
theatre and its staff are not merely a nice
thing that has happened. It’s by design and
very much about how the building runs too.
“Whether it’s a rental client, a performer
or any patron who comes to the theatre,” Hill
explains, “Eric’s goal was to make every
experience at the theatre a special one. It’s
our belief that every single person that goes
on our stage deserves everything we have to
offer, always, whether you’re a legend or in
your first dance recital.”
With multiple local dance recitals coming
up this May, it’s a great time to think
about the way this work ethic builds community
around the theatre.
Of course, Lariviere himself has his
own opinion about what his most important
impact has been for these past 15 years.
“I think the Discovery Markham
program has had the biggest impact,” adds
Lariviere.
The Discovery program, pioneered by
Lariviere, offers free school matinee performances
for Markham elementary schools,
specialized performing arts programming and
camps for youth ages 4-16, masterclasses and
workshops for youth and adults, and partnerships
with community festivals and events.
“Making the theatre a familiar place for
young people and artists has changed the face
of the community here,” says Lariviere.
Even though his absence will be felt by
all who worked with him, Lariviere leaves
the theatre in capable hands. Hill has worked
at the theatre for more than thirty years and
has successfully done nearly every job imaginable
in the building. To say he knows the
place is an understatement.
“The 2024/25 season that we’re announcing
this coming May 13 still has Eric’s
fingerprints on it,” Hill says. “It’s going to be
a wonderful mix of Canadian and international
talent that will take our audience on
any number of wonderful rides as always.”
Visit markhamtheatre.ca for more information.
The
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Strawberry Festival
is proudly hosting the awards this year for:
Citizen of the Year
Sportsperson of the Year
If you know someone who deserves to be
recognized for their contributions to our
community, we want to know.
Nominations are now open!
StrawberryFestival.ca/2024PeopleOfTheYear
Awards to be presented at the Opening Ceremonies
on Friday June 28, 2024 in Memorial Park