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Portal Players Dramatic Society is a Registered Non-Profit Organization and a Registered Canadian Charity which owns & operates The Capitol Theatre. All our actors, directors, crew & production teams, along with our theatre maintenance people, are highly skilled, talented & local volunteers, members who are working hard to help create and promote a Vibrant Arts Community in the Alberni Valley. Portal Players thanks you so much for supporting us by buying tickets and attending our performances!

Due to the quickly evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the directives of the province of BC, Portal Players Dramatic Society Board of Directors has made the decision to close the Capitol Theatre to the public for the remainder of the season.

“I Ought to Be in Pictures”, our education programs (Stages Youth Theatre, Wee-Glee/Glee/Sea Notes Choirs), and all other events scheduled to take place at the Capitol Theatre have been postponed. 

Prorated refunds will be forthcoming to all of our educational program participants with more details to follow.  Season Ticket holders will be contacted. 

Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate through this ever-changing situation. We are deeply concerned about the health and welfare of our patrons, members, staff and contractors, and we are confident that this is the right course of action at this time.

For more information, please contact us at capitoltheatre@shaw.ca, call (250)723-1195 (messages) or this website.

We encourage everyone to seek out information on how to protect themselves and the community at large by visiting the following sites:

Island Health – https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/diseases-conditions/novel-coronavirus-information

BC Centre for Disease Control — http://www.bccdc.ca/about/news-stories/stories/2020/information-on-novel-coronavirus

Public Health Agency of Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

World Health Organization — https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

ATC 008 – “Shadow of Murder”

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After a little hiatus, Portal Players’ podcast “At The Capitol” returns. This episode we’re checking in at the half way point of our “Shadow of Murder” run. Director Jacqollyne Keath and Producer Nicole Saugstad join host Peter Wienold.

“Some people have said it looks nicer than their homes!”

Regarding the set on stage at The Capitol Theatre for “Shadow of Murder”

The final two performances of “Shadow of Murder” are on Friday March 13 and Saturday March 14. Don’t miss it to find out whodunnit! Tickets available here by clicking here.

Down the show directly here.

ATC 007 – “GEN Z – It’s Fun & Fresh, with Cool Teens”

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This time around, and with no trepidation at all, we have handed the podcast keys over to some of our STAGES Company One students, who are preparing their original play “GEN Z” for production at The Capitol Theatre.

STAGES Youth Theatre Company students, podcasting.

STAGES Youth Theatre Company is opening “GEN Z”on Friday, April 5, 2019 – running over two weekends of Friday and Saturday night shows, and Sunday matinees, through to April 14th at The Capitol Theatre. Tickets available at the box office before each performance. Check out the STAGES Facebook page for tons more information and promotional videos that the students have prepared.

Download the show here.

ATC 006 – “The Melting Pot of Many Hats”

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Portal Players’ podcast is back! After some time off, we’re back on track talking all about Portal Players Dramatic Society.

Our next two productions are called “Looking” and “Sisters”, and in this episode we talk to the directors of both shows. The co-producers of “Looking” also make an appearance, as do some actors from “Sisters”. You might think there are a dozen people on this show, but no – that’s the magic of the melting pot of many hats!

Brent Ronning, Peter Wienold, Jacqollyne Keath & Nicole Saugstad

Host Peter Wienold chats with Brent Ronning, Jacqollyne Keath and Nicole Saugstad on this episode. Jacqollyne is the director of Norm Foster’s great comedy, “Looking” which opens on February 22 at The Capitol Theatre. Brent Ronning is Portal Players’ President and director of Wendy Lill’s “Sisters”, opening April 26. And Nicole Saugstad is co-producer for “Looking”. To find out the many other hats we all wear, please tune in!

Tickets to our upcoming shows are available now at the box office, from Rollin Art Centre and online. Click here for “Looking”, and here for “Sisters”.

Yes, it’s episode number 006 of At The Capitol with Portal Players – please have a listen right now!


ATC 005 – “They Were In The French Revolution”

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Subscribe on iTunes Here!

On this episode of the At The Capitol with Portal Players podcast, we chat with our trio from Little Shop of Horrors. Meet Bronwyn Mairie Nestegaard-Paul, Melissa Lowe and Niklas Burton.

Podcast guests (left to right) Bronwyn, Melissa and Nik.

We chat about all things Little Shop and their roles in the show, and then take a dangerous dive into favourite musical theatre titles.

This episode was recorded on Sunday, September 23 before a Little Shop rehearsal, and before Portal Players’ Annual General Meeting held on Monday night, September 24.

At the AGM, Melissa Lowe received the highly-coveted and well-regarded Doreen Anderson Volunteer of the Year award, and podcast guest Niklas Burton was elected to the PPDS Board of Directors. Congratulations to you both!

Tune in to the podcast to hear a very entertaining discussion!

ATC 004: News Update, September 20, 2018

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Subscribe on iTunes Here!

Annual General Meeting, September 24

Portal Players Dramatic Society is holding its Annual General Meeting on Monday, September 24 at 7 pm, at The Capitol Theatre. New Members are welcome, as is the public – You’ll get to meet many of our members and hear our latest updates. You’ll also hear about Theatre BC’s big “provincials” of drama, the Mainstage festival, coming to Port Alberni next summer and being organized in large part by Portal Players. We’re still building the team and assembling a volunteer corps, so by all means, come to the AGM.

Season Tickets – Available Now

Portal Players’ new season of plays kicks off in October with our production of the musical “Little Shop of Horrors”. Season tickets are available now for the entire series of four shows at a discounted price of just $69.00 for adults, a savings of $10 on individual ticket purchases. You could also purchase an individual patron sponsorship for just $129.00 which includes a season ticket, a membership in Portal Players and a $50 tax receipt. Buy your Season Tickets Here; buy your Opening Night Gala Ticket Here.

Sponsorship Campaign – On Now

Our annual campaign to partner with local businesses is now underway. This is an excellent opportunity for your business to support the arts while raising your own profile in the community, including promotional mentions on this, our new podcast. Affordable business support levels start at just $250, with higher levels available too. Click here for a downloadable PDF of our Partnership Packages brochure; or e-mail us: capitoltheatre@shaw.ca and someone will get back to you.

Thank you to our season sponsors so far, Swale Rock Cafe, The Graphics Factory and Koliber Gifts.

Opening Night Fundraising Gala, October 17

Another way you can show your support of Portal Players is to attend our Opening Night Fundraising Gala for “Little Shop of Horrors” on Wednesday, October 17. Not only is it our opening night, but we’ll finally be “Raising The Reds” with our new, marquee curtains at centre stage. With grateful thanks to Lily Diotte and our many other funders, it’s a night to celebrate! Tickets are just $50 which includes a $25 tax receipt – available online now and at our box office during regular hours.

Norm Foster comedy “Looking” – Auditions

Portal Players is producing the Norm Foster comedy, “Looking”. Auditions are taking place on October 9 and 10 at 7 pm each night at The Capitol Theatre. 2 women and 2 men are needed for the cast; and we need members on our production team too – so if you have any interest in being on the stage, or off the stage, please attend the auditions to let us know. And you can also come to the AGM September 24 to let us know you’re interested.

Find out more about “Looking” at this link.

More “At The Capitol” Coming Soon . . .

Coming up soon on the At The Capitol podcast – a feature profile of three performers in Little Shop of Horrors. We’ll be chatting with our greek chorus, our tenacious trio, who are never far from the scene. Join me in chatting with Bronwyn, Melissa and Niklas very soon on At The Capitol with Portal Players.

Portal Players SEASON TICKETS Now Available!

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Click here to purchase the full season of Portal Players productions at a discounted price!

Season Tickets are now available which includes Little Shop of Horrors, at a cost of just $69 + fees – a savings of $10 over buying individual advance adult tickets.

The full season shows include:

  • Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman & Alan Menken; based on the film by Roger Corman & Charlie Griffith (October/November, 2018)
  • This Is a Play by Daniel MacIvor (November, 2018) – This includes a special tour of select non-public areas of The Capitol Theatre
  • Looking by Norm Foster (February/March, 2019)
  • Sisters by Wendy Lill (April/May, 2019)