I have a thought on the situation that Central Alberta Theatre has run into.
I like the idea of having a great dinner theatre program in Red Deer, however I can honestly say I have never attended a CAT production. I have never been impressed with the shows they have chosen to produce, as almost all of them have included sex, swearing, drug/alcohol use and other non-appealing acts such as those.
I wonder if CAT would consider doing more wholesome shows, the classics, without all those items mentioned above. Open your shows to more of a target audience; open it up to people that might actually come because they will be getting a great show that is clean and enjoyable.
There are numerous plays and shows out there that can be enjoyed by all crowds and who knows, it may just pull out more crowds to help get them out of their financial woes. Would it not be worth a try? I know I would be much more interested in coming to a show if they did just that.
Take a look at what other theatres such as Rosebud Theatre have done, and they are hugely successful.
Cassandra Krause
Red Deer