Liverpool’s Astor Theatre eyes opportunity with Bridgewater Cineplex closure

Cineplex Cinemas Bridgewater will close on April 29. (Rick Conrad)

While moviegoers on the South Shore may be mourning the impending closure of Cineplex Cinemas in Bridgewater, Liverpool’s Astor Theatre is getting ready to welcome film fans back.

Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell confirmed online rumours late last week that Cineplex will close its seven-screen multiplex on April 29.

No one from Cineplex was available for an interview on Tuesday, but the company sent the following statement to QCCR:

“We’ve made the difficult decision not to renew our lease and to close our Cineplex Bridgewater location, the last day of shows will be April 29.

“We are grateful to our team and the community for their support over the past 11 years.”

Mitchell said he’s contacted Cineplex to see if they would remain in town at a different location or in a smaller venue. He said Tuesday he hasn’t heard back from the company.

“Other than the date, I have no additional information from Cineplex,” he said in an interview. 

“It’s a huge loss just because it’s an entertainment venue, it’s a place where all ages could go out and socialize. It’s a loss in terms of that social aspect in the community.”

But Bridgewater’s loss could be Liverpool’s gain.

The Astor Theatre has regularly shown movies in its 200-seat space. It just recently got a new sound system installed. Executive director Jerri Southcott says they plan to begin showing movies again by mid-April. She said it may keep more Queens County moviegoers at their hometown theatre.

“Personally, I think it’s sad. The timing is really interesting. While it’s not going to make a huge difference, because we’re not sure people will make the trip here, but it might help.

“We will certainly be looking at the opportunities that it will have for us as a functioning theatre.””

News of the Cineplex Bridgewater closure comes amid a few tough years for the movie theatre industry. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, theatres have struggled to bring people back. Competition from streaming services has also bitten into the bottom line.

According to a 2023 study by Telefilm Canada on Canadian movie consumption, 95 per cent of Canadians watch feature films. But 98 per cent of that movie watching was happening at home.

Big budget action movies are still a draw to the multiplex, the study found. But many older and rural consumers watch a majority of movies at home. Fewer than a third of people made two or more trips to cinemas in the previous 12 months.

“High spectacle genres are the preferred lures to cinemas, especially for younger moviegoers,” the report found. “By contrast, many older and more rural consumers watch an overwhelming portion of their movies in the home.”

Ironically, Cineplex has been reporting better audience numbers in the past year, though box office receipts are still lagging behind 2019.

Smaller theatres like the Astor, which are considered second-run movie houses, had been restricted in what kinds of movies they could show. They had to wait until new releases cycled through Cineplex. 

With the Bridgewater theatres closing, Southcott isn’t sure how that will affect what the Astor can offer.

“We tended to be a place where they could see movies that they wouldn’t necessarily be able to see at a big cineplex anway. We’re excited about getting it up and running again. I’ts a great venue. Seeing a movie here is a really great experience.”

Mitchell said he thinks there’s still a great moviegoing market in Bridgewater. 

“I don’t think this is the end of movies in Bridgewater. You can watch a movie in Liverpool and you can watch a movie in Chester at the two playhouses, which is great. But regionally, this is the only multiplex. There is a market here for the multiplex.”

In the meantime, an online petition has been created to convince Cineplex to reverse its decision. It has more than 800 signatures so far.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Musical Follies opens to raves at Liverpool’s Astor Theatre

The cast of Follies on opening night Thursday at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad photo)

The curtain went up on a big, bold, breathtaking musical at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool on Thursday night.

Stephen Sondheim’s Follies began its eight-show run at the historic theatre. It features more than two dozen cast members from Queens and Lunenburg counties ranging in age from 14 to 77. 

One of the many elaborate costumes in the musical Follies, playing until March 3 at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad photo)

A co-production of the Winds of Change and the Astor Theatre, it’s the first big musical mounted at the Astor since 2018. It runs until March 3. Tickets are available in person at the Astor Theatre box office, by calling 902-354-5250 or through Ticketpro Atlantic.

QCCR was at opening night and got reaction from some members of the audience after the show. Listen below.

Follies opens at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool on Thursday

The cast of Follies rehearses at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

The Astor Theatre’s first adult musical since 2018 is set to open this Thursday, Feb. 22.

The Astor and Winds of Change are co-producing the Stephen Sondheim musical Follies. The Tony-award-winning show features elaborate costumes and big musical and dance numbers. 

It features more than two dozen cast members from around Queens and Lunenburg counties, ranging in age from 14 to 77. That’s in addition to the many other people behind the scenes.

Cast and crew have spent hours each week over the past three months in vocal and dance training, as well as regular rehearsals.

We talked to some of the people behind the show during one of their rehearsals in late January. 

Tickets are on sale now through the Astor Theatre box office in person, by calling 902-354-5250 or online through Ticketpro

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to the story below

Astor Theatre director brings passion and paws to new role

Jerri Southcott took over this week as executive director of the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

The Astor Theatre in Liverpool got more than a new executive director this week. It also got a new dog.

Jerri Southcott took over on Feb. 5 from interim executive director Jean Robinson.

And she’s already made one big change.

Macduff, her laidback nine-year-old Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, will be keeping her company as she leads the Astor.

Southcott isn’t worried about the old W.C. Fields warning against working with children or animals.

“He takes that saying and spins it to the positive for sure. He’ll definitely steal the show.”

Macduff and Southcott are no strangers to the stage. He made an appearance in the musical Pippin last summer at the theatre, which Southcott brought to the Astor with her own theatre company, South Shore Summer Theatre.

Macduff at the Astor Theatre. His mom, Jerri Southcott, took over as executive director. (Jerri Southcott photo)

The Astor announced in January that it had hired Southcott, who lives in Mahone Bay with Macduff and her husband Dave Stephens.  

In her first week on the job, she says she’s been busy getting to know the theatre, its staff members Ashley-Rose Goodwin, Katy Hopkins and Malcolm Freeman and the community.

She’s already impressed.

“We’re really blessed to have Ashley and Malcolm and Katy here who are so incredibly skilled,” she said in an interview.

“I just observed over the past few days how wonderful the people are in this community and how much they adore this theatre and so I feel very fortunate.”

She says she doesn’t plan any big changes, because she knows what it’s like to balance a tight budget for a charitable organization like the Astor.

“I learned a lot when I started South Shore Summer Theatre. But it really helped me especially with this job understand the accountability you need as a non-profit, understanding the balance of providing an opportunity for professional training at no cost to the community, especially youth, and how you balance that cheque book.”

She says the key will be continuing the work the Astor has done in the past couple of years to bring people back to the theatre after the pandemic.

With homegrown productions like the musical Follies, opening Feb. 22, she says it’s an exciting time to be here.

“I’m coming at a really great time because we have Follies opening on Feb. 22 and it’s going to be a great show. But it’s also given me an opportunity to meet some really interesting characters who come through the doors and really take ownership of the building adn the theater. They are so giving and generous with their time, often their money. We’re very blessed to have such a great hub of the community here with this theatre.”

Southcott says it’s her priority to get to know the community and what they want from the Astor. It’s important to keep people coming back to the theatre, she says, whether that’s for great entertainment or by offering more training and workshops for youth, regardless of their financial background.

“This has always been a really strong passion of mine to make theatre, dance, music accessible to families who don’t have the money to pay for expensive music lessons … or private dance classes.”

With her background in government communications, Southcott says she is optimistic that the Astor can become the theatre destination for the whole South Shore.

“How do we get that message out there and how do we continue to let people know we’re here? When you look at the big picture, on the South Shore we are the biggest theatre. We have the potential for Bridgewater, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg to take ownership of this as their theatre on the South Shore because there isn’t a venue as big anywhere in the area. So I think that the future looks really bright.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Cast, crew ramp up rehearsals for Follies debut at Astor Theatre

The cast of Follies rehearses at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

Liverpool will soon get a chance to see the first adult musical at the Astor Theatre since Rock of Ages in 2018.

The Astor and Winds of Change are co-producing the Stephen Sondheim musical Follies. The Tony-award-winning show features elaborate costumes and big musical and dance numbers. 

Set in 1971, in a decaying and haunted Broadway theatre, Follies tells the story of a reunion of former showgirls through their memories and their enduring friendships.

It features more than two dozen cast members from around Queens and Lunenburg counties, ranging in age from 14 to 77. That’s in addition to the many other people behind the scenes.

Cast and crew have spent hours each week over the past two months in vocal and dance training, as well as regular rehearsals.

Ashley-Rose Goodwin, director of Follies at the Astor Theatre. (Rick Conrad photo)

Director Ashley-Rose Goodwin estimates she’s spent about 50 hours a week with individuals and the full cast in preparing the show. The company has also partnered with Kinship Performing Arts Centre in Bridgewater to include some of their dancers in the show, and to help train cast members.

We talked to some of the people behind the show as they ramp up rehearsals in preparation for opening night on Feb. 22.

Tickets are on sale now through the Astor Theatre box office in person or by calling 902-354-5250 or through Ticketpro at this link.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to interviews with cast members and director Ashley-Rose Goodwin below



Astor Theatre hires new executive director

Jerri Southcott is the new executive director of the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. (Submitted photo)

By Rick Conrad

The Astor Theatre in Liverpool has hired a new executive director.

Jerri Southcott takes over the full-time position on Feb. 5, the theatre’s board of directors announced Tuesday

Southcott is no stranger to the Astor. As the founder of South Shore Summer Theatre, she brought two productions to Liverpool — Jesus Christ Superstar in 2022 and Pippin in 2023.

She says she’s excited about her new role.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting some of the patrons and working with the board of directors and the staff. I really do have a passion for the arts and for this building and the theatre itself. … I’m very excited.”

Southcott has experience on stage, and behind the scenes. She is a professional actor, with voice-over work in commercials, documentaries and animated series. 

She has a family background in theatre. Her parents ran a renowned music theatre program for young people in North Bay, Ont. She says that program is still going strong after more than 40 years. 

She has also worked in various communications roles with the federal government, along with stints in journalism with CBC.

It’s been four years since the Astor has had a full-time executive director. Jean Robinson has been filling the role on an interim basis for almost three years, since September 2020, and plans to help with the transition.

The theatre began its most recent search for a permanent executive director in March 2023, when Robinson announced she was stepping back from the temporary role for health reasons.

In May 2023, the Astor announced that its successful candidate would not be taking on the role after all.

Another search resulted in the hiring of Lesli Chandler, who began the job in July but resigned in September for personal reasons.

Robinson returned to her role as interim director in the meantime, helping with the search for someone to fill the job permanently.

John Simmonds, the chairman of the Astor board, says Robinson played a vital role in the past few years in keeping the Astor afloat. 

“She kept our doors open,” Simmonds said. “The good news is that through all this, the staff pulled together extraordinarily well. And Jean, as a part-timer, was putting in a full-time load. If it needed to be done, she would be here doing it.”

He says the board is excited about what Southcott will bring to the job, especially with what promises to be a packed 2024 season, starting with the Winds of Change production of the musical Follies in February.

“She will bring that leadership component which she has had before,” he said. 

“She has done an awful lot on the artistic side. She’s run programs, she’s an actor, she’s done all of the things that we do in the theatre, plus she has had a strong administrative component in her various businesses that she’s run. So we think that will stand her in good stead to hit the ground running in February.”

Simmonds added that one of the things that most impressed the board was Southcott’s background in communications, which he hopes will help boost the Astor’s considerable promotional efforts.

Southcott and her husband moved to Mahone Bay three years ago. She said she plans to commute to Liverpool for now, but that she and her family may consider moving closer as she gets comfortable in the job.

“I do see the benefits of living in the community and working in a position like this one,” she says. 

“And I also feel like the South Shore as a whole, it’s a great opportunity for me to introduce the Astor to people in this area who maybe haven’t really experienced the theatre.”

As she takes over from Jean Robinson, Southcott says she has “big shoes to fill”, but that she’s up for the challenge.

“I feel confident that it will be a wonderful experience thanks to the support from the board and from the outgoing executive director.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Astor Theatre executive director resigns

The exterior of the Liverpool Town Hall Arts  and Cultural Centre

Howe of the Astor Theatre, the Liverpool Town Hall Arts and Cultural Centre. Photo Ed Halverson

The executive director at the Astor Theatre is taking her final bow.

Jean Robinson-Dexter announced she will be stepping away from the position at the end of March.

She has been in the part-time executive director position at the Astor Theatre for almost three years while continuing to run her own consulting firm.

Robinson-Dexter says that busy schedule combined with health concerns caused her to think about how she wants to spend her time.

“As a number of people would know is that I have been on a journey with breast cancer for over a year now and that treatment is still underway,” said Robinson-Dexter. “I think I just took a pause a few days ago to think about where I am you know, the treatment seems to be going well but at my age I needed to think about out one, my health for myself and my family and what I wanted to be doing over the next few years.”

Robinson-Dexter will no longer run the day-to-day operations of the theatre, but still wants to be involved.

She was originally drawn to the Astor as a producer for shows like “The Full Monty”, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and the Winds of Change production of “Les Misérables” and would like to return in that capacity, helping to bring new shows to life.

But before show starts planning her next production Robinson-Dexter will be tying-off loose ends over the next couple of weeks.

“There are a few deliverables and pieces of work that I want to have completed and the board would like me to complete before I step back and of course, as I say, I’ll be around and happy to support and provide information for whoever comes next,” said Robinson-Dexter.

She speaks fondly of her time as executive director and looks forward to being involved with the theatre in a new capacity.

“The Astor is a pretty special place in our community, and I think I’ve been pretty privileged to have the opportunity to be part of the Astor family for as many years as I have and so my role is hopefully just changing.”

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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