You don’t need to believe a politicians ’s promise to have “the best  summer ever” because New West Theatre and local artists and arts organizations already have that in hand.
 New West Theatre will presenting  live music, magic, drama and much more in their new summer series Art in the Park running from July 10- Sept. 11 at four different city parks every Saturday.
 Performances will be rotating through the Civic Park, downtown, behind the LSCO, Henderson Lake, Legacy Park in the north and  Nicholas Sheran Park on the west side.

“We’ll be presenting free performances throughout the summer at various parks across the city,” said New West Theatre artistic director Kelly Reay.

“ We’re doing this because A: Artists haven’t been able to perform live in a year and a half and B: because people haven’t been able to see arts live in a year a half.

 “So this is a celebration of arts in the city because performers bring so much joy to people when they see actual live arts performances,” Reay continued, adding  they aren’t doing their usual  main stage variety shows this summer.

“With the climate we’re in with Covid, we decided to be conservative this summer,” Reay said.
“So when the city came to us with this opportunity, we jumped on it,” he continued, adding the performers are 100 per cent local.

 

“As a person who is still adjusting to moving here, I am in awe how how much talent we have in Lethbridge,” he said, adding artists came to New West with their proposals in May.

 The schedule and line ups are to be finalized, though the first show will feature all music. Most performances will take place on Saturday afternoons from 1-5 p.m.

 Some of  the highlights will be shows from local funk rock trio Adequate as well as  The Southern Accord Chorus, a presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Legacy Park with The Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society and a one man show from Andrew Legg as well as a couple musical presentations with the Geomatic Attic.

More artists will be announced as details are finalized.

All performers will be paid, though will be donation opportunities.

“The goal isn’t to make money, it’s about celebrating performances by Lethbridge artists,” Reay said.

The complete line up will be announced, June 23.