For over 58 years, The Curtain Club has provided quality theatre at an affordable price to the citizens of Richmond Hill, Ontario and has been recognized as a centre for developing artistic appreciation, creativity, personal growth, and friendship.
Founded in 1954 with about 25 members, we rehearsed in members’ homes, built sets in garages and stored costumes in attics while performing in local halls and schools. In 1961, we moved into a converted service garage off Yonge Street with a 97-seat auditorium. Then, in 1971, club members raised funds and hammers to create our current facility at the corner of Newkirk and Elgin Mills in Richmond Hill, which opened in 1972.
The Royal Canadian Air Farce, broadcasted its first few seasons in our, then new, home in the early 1970′s.
In the 80’s, we expanded our facility to increase our workshop and lobby spaces and in 2009, we took on a $1.2 million dollar expansion and renovation to update our theatre for accessibility, washrooms, kitchen and improved heating and air conditioning systems.
The club has long been a proud supporter of the Theatre Ontario Festival having participated 4 times in a row – Filthy Rich (Oshawa, 2003); Staff Room (Sault Ste. Marie, 2004 -awarded Outstanding Festival Production); Marvin’s Room (Belleville, 2005- awarded Outstanding Festival Production); Proof (Sarnia, 2006). We have also hosted the Festival twice – 1999 using the Newmarket Theatre and last year, The Curtain Club proudly hosted a very successful Theatre Ontario Festival using both our renovated facility and the new Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Now in 2012, we were thrilled to be back at the Theatre Ontario Festival in the Sault with The December Man (awarded best Female lead and best ensemble).