Edmonton arts community mourns loss of Roxy Theatre

The Edmonton arts community suffered a major blow with the news that the beloved Roxy Theatre had burned down early in the morning of Jan. 13.

The theatre, which was built for movies in 1938 and re-purposed for live performances when the Theatre Network bought it in 1991, was well sought-after by up-and-coming artists in the city. Taylor Chadwick, marketing director at Theatre Network, says many artists got their start there, and that the Roxy was a safe place for artists to take risks.

“The Roxy was like a member of the community, it had a heartbeat,” adds Theatre Network associate producer and Nextfest festival manager Maggie Baird. “Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but we still lost a member and a personality.”

The Roxy was home to Theatre Network’s powerful plays and Nextfest, Edmonton’s diverse emerging artist festival. Hundreds of people were a part of the Roxy each year by either creating plays or attending events, making deep connections with each other and developing sentimental feelings towards the building.

“A lot of people came and saw movies, had their first dates, got married there. There’s been memorials there,” says Chadwick. “There’s a lot of emotion and feeling and creativity that lived in there. The energy in that building is irreplaceable.”

The loss, however devastating, has only managed to shine a light on the strength of the small, tight-knit theatre community in Edmonton.

“The love for the Roxy doesn’t come from its historic value or iconic marquee. The love comes from those who fill it,” says Kim Creller, former Roxy staff and recent U of A graduate from the BFA technical theatre and production program. “The people I met while working there, the volunteers, the patrons, the artists and my coworkers all shared a great passion for theatre and the arts.”

Because of the power the Roxy had over the lives of the arts community in Edmonton, the response to the tragedy has been massive. Donations have been flooding in — everything from chocolate to a printer has been given to help the theatre in its rebuilding process.

Supporters can donate money through canadahelps.org or the Theatre Network’s website to help the Roxy rebuild on their historic property on 124 Street. Additionally, the Artery is hosting a fundraiser this Wednesday, Jan. 21, where a few major bands from around the city, including The Provincial Archive and Joe Nolan, are playing to support the Roxy. Every little bit helps the Theatre Network crew get closer to rebuilding the legacy of the Roxy.

In theatre, where people are al-ways seeking the next big thing, change is important. Losing the Roxy has been heartbreaking, but the fearless and resilient community will be able to persevere with creativity and grace.

“The number one dream would be to rebuild it,” says Baird.

“We don’t want to leave this area,” adds Chadwick. “We want to stay an anchor in this community.”