Skip to content

Big-time entertainment in small-town setting

Stettler Variety Showcase marks its anniversary with weekly winter lineup of top-notch concerts
32625stettlerValdy092513
Legendary Valdy is among many high-profile artists who have performed in Stettler.

Submitted by Rose Fenske

Stettler Variety Showcase

Stettler Variety Showcase Association is a volunteer non-profit association set up to provide cultural enrichment through concerts and drama productions for Stettler and surrounding area.

The association began 35 years ago as “Stettler and District Overture Concert Association,” with the goal of bringing, to our rural area, quality artists and performances that would usually only be seen in large centres.

The association’s name was later changed to “Stettler Variety Showcase” to highlight “variety” as we continue to present a wide range of genres and styles of family entertainment at a reasonable cost.

The volunteer board of directors is made up of 10 to 13 members and all season ticket-holders are considered members of the association.

The popularity of the Overture Concert series, being held in a variety of venues, was one of the incentives to build a proper theatre.

The Performing Arts Centre was built and became the home for the Sunday concerts. SVS continues to support and contribute to improvements in the PAC. Many guest artists tell us how fortunate we are to have such a lovely facility in a community this size and they love to come here.

What began as a four-show season in 1977, expanded to include a dinner show in 97 and to sold out seasons tickets and full houses until, in 2005, demand led to having two performances, Sunday afternoon and evening, in the PAC.

For the past seven years, the season has included a Saturday Dinner Show in the Community Centre and five Sunday shows in the PAC. The membership includes many patrons from the surrounding areas in a 100-mile radius.

Besides hosting the concerts, finding and booking artists is a major task of the board. The Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta is the main source for finding quality, available entertainment by hosting a weekend showcase in October, where many artists from all genres come to promote their performances to board members from all the Presenting Associations in Alberta.

Bookings of shows are done a year in advance. Suggestions from our members for quality entertainment are always welcome.

The Alberta government has helped fund the concert series through various grants and continues to do so through the “Alberta Foundation for The Arts.”

This grant plus the purchase of season and individual show tickets and the efficient work of the board has allowed us to keep ticket prices affordable to everyone. This year’s season-ticket price of $100 for six shows with seven artists, including a three-course dinner is the best deal in the country! Other presenters are charging much more for many of the same artists.

Attending live concerts is a great way for an individual or family to spend a winter afternoon or evening. Check out our shows at www.stettlershowcase.com.

Come and enjoy a variety of entertainment and take the opportunity to expand your cultural experiences right in your home community. Tickets are available at Pfeiffer’s House of Music or by mail at Box 2206, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0.