Badlands Amphitheatre
The Badlands Amphitheatre (often referred to as the Badlands Amp) is a non-profit arts, culture, and tourism event venue in Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. The Badlands Amphitheatre takes its name from the original 2,500-seat open-air amphitheatre onsite that is situated in the heart of the Canadian Badlands. This natural amphitheatre is widely recognized as Canada's largest outdoor stage.
The grounds of the Badlands Amphitheatre span 400 acres (0.625 square miles, 1.62 square km). Onsite facilities include the Mainstage natural amphitheatre, the smaller 200-seat Forum Theatre, and the Badlands Arts Centre, which hosts The Studio Space (an indoor flexible performance space with digital projection walls), commercial and barbecue kitchens, and an indoor dining area.
Notable events produced and hosted by the Badlands Amphitheatre include the Badlands Passion Play, the Canadian Icons concert series, and the Roots, Blues & Barbecue festival.
The Badlands Amphitheatre is a registered Canadian nonprofit arts and culture society.[1]
History[edit]
Efforts to establish an open-air amphitheatre in the Canadian Badlands region for the purposes of producing a Passion Play began in 1991.[2] In the early years of the Badlands Passion Play, audience members were asked to bring lawn chairs to performances; amphitheatre seating was subsequently built in 1994.[3]
From 1994 to 2015, the Badlands Amphitheatre site was open to the general public for summer performances outdoors, then closed for the rest of the year. In 2015, the Badlands Amphitheatre began hosting outdoor concerts, starting with the inaugural Canadian Icons concert featuring Tom Cochrane.[4] From 2015 on, more events were added, including the Roots, Blues & Barbecue festival,[5][6] classical concerts, Badlands LightFest (fireworks[7] and light installations[8]), and the opera Carmen, which was the first full-length outdoor opera produced in Alberta.[9][10] During this expansion, the Badlands Amphitheatre won two Alberta Tourism awards for marketing and collaboration.[11]
In 2019, construction of the Badlands Arts Centre, a 1,310 square meter (14,100 square foot) indoor event space, was initiated. Construction of the Badlands Arts Centre was funded in part by the provincial and federal governments.[12]
In 2020, the Badlands Amphitheatre, following provincial COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, cancelled the Badlands Passion Play for the first time in its 27-year history.[13][14] Event cancellations led to a 99% drop in site visitors as compared to 2019.[15] The site did not return to event operations until Summer 2022.[16]
Grounds[edit]
The Badlands Amphitheatre is located off of South Dinosaur Trail in Drumheller, Alberta. The site's 400 acres are situated in the Canadian Badlands region, which is characterized by a distinctive geographic topology and is home to the largest deposit of dinosaur bones in the world.[17]
Due to scenic and auditory similarities between the Badlands Amphitheatre and Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, USA, the Badlands Amphitheatre is sometimes referred to as Canada's Red Rocks.[4][18]
Facilities[edit]
The Mainstage of the Badlands Amphitheatre is a 2,500-seat outdoor amphitheatre. The stage area is six acres of performance space, and is widely recognized as Canada's largest outdoor stage.[19]
The Forum Theatre is a smaller outdoor amphitheatre that seats 240.
The Badlands Arts Centre is a 1,310 square meter (14,100 square-foot) building with an additional 836 square meter (9,000 square feet) of dedicated outdoor space that allows indoor events to occur onsite.[15] The Badlands Arts Centre houses the Studio Space, commercial and barbecue kitchens, and an indoor dining area.
The Studio Space in the Badlands Arts Centre[15] is a 232 square meter (2,500 square foot) performance space that seats up to 200. The Studio Space has flexible seating configurations, a lighting catwalk, and a curved 270-degree digital projection wall that is approximately 30 meters (100 feet) long and 5 meters (16 feet) high.
Notable Events[edit]
Notable events at the Badlands Amphitheatre include the Badlands Passion Play, the Canadian Icons concert series, and the Roots, Blues and Barbecue Festival.[6][20]
Badlands Passion Play[edit]
Similar to Passion Plays performed worldwide, the Badlands Passion Play is an outdoor theatre performance that tells the story of the life of Christ. In 2022, the Badlands Passion Play celebrated its 27th season.[21] It is the largest production of its kind in North America, involving up to 200 actors, theatre professionals, and volunteers.[21][22][23] In some years the play has included live animals such as donkeys, horses, and doves,[24][25][26] and live musicians.[27]
The Badlands Passion Play is considered one of Alberta's top attractions.[23] In 2014, the Badlands Passion Play was named one of the top 100 events in North America.[2]
The Canadian Icons Concert Series[edit]
The Canadian Icons Concert Series hosts performances by prominent Canadian musicians.[28] The series began in 2015 with Canadian musician Tom Cochrane.[4] In subsequent years, Canadian musicians featured in the series included:
- Blue Rodeo[11]
- Paul Brandt[29]
- Randy Bachman[30]
- Ian Tyson (opening act Corb Lund); Tyson subsequently cancelled due to poor health and Lund headlined[31][32][33]
- Jann Arden (opening act Nuela Charles)[34][35]
- Walk Off the Earth (opening act Static Shift)[36]
- Barenaked Ladies (opening act The Velveteins)[37]
- Johnny Reid[38]
- The Dead South[38]
References[edit]
- ^ "CANADIAN BADLANDS PASSION PLAY SOCIETY — Charity Data". www.charitydata.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ a b "Lots of new touches for this year's Canadian Badlands Passion Play - Lacombe Express". www.lacombeexpress.com. 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Ruckman, Allie. "Canadian Badlands Passion Play celebrates 25 years". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ a b c Bell, Mike (July 29, 2015). "Tom Cochrane booked for first rock show at Badlands amphitheatre". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Burr, Britanny (September 8, 2022). "4 Can't-Miss Things to Do Around Alberta This Weekend, September 9th to 11th". MountainviewToday.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ a b "Live events in Calgary are back with theatre, comedy, ribs and more". CBC News. September 11, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Ruckman, Allie (November 20, 2019). "Inaugural LightFest Fireworks Show Brings Christmas Joy". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "There's an amazing laser, light and water show happening in the Badlands". dailyhive.com. August 10, 2018. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Rankin, Bill (2020-04-06). "Indie Opera: Canada's Key Indie Players". Opera Canada. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Hobson, Louis B. (August 1, 2018). "Beloved opera Carmen goes to Drumheller Badlands Amphitheatre". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ a b "Canadian music icon Blue Rodeo will headline second-ever rock show at the Canadian Badlands Passion Play Amphitheatre". Drumheller Mail. 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Government of Canada, Prairies Economic Development (2022-05-24). "Government of Canada invests in a signature Edmonton summer festival and in tourism experiences in Alberta". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Badlands Passion Play cancelled until next year". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Badlands Passion Play postponed due to COVID-19, will be resurrected in 2021". CTV News. 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ a b c Blanke, Jason. "Badlands Amphitheatre Looking To Light Up The Amp". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Hobson, Louis (July 5, 2022). "Community comes together to ensure Passion Play resumes in Drumheller Badlands". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Canadian Badlands | Alberta Parks". www.albertaparks.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Blanke, Jason. "Great Big Weekend Huge Success For Badlands Amphitheatre". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Stefanic, Cassandra (2022-08-12). "Canada's largest outdoor stage is hidden in the Alberta Badlands & it has the most amazing view". Curiocity. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Badlands Amphitheatre | Tourism Calgary". www.visitcalgary.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ a b Dormer, Dave (2021-04-26). "Badlands Passion Play postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19". CTV News. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "From Calgary to Calvary: What happens when an agnostic is cast in Canada's largest Passion play?". CBC Radio. January 24, 2020.
- ^ a b Workman, Janine (June 17, 2013). "Alberta Badlands backdrop superb for Passion Play show". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Hunt, Stephen (2018-06-26). "Where to see performing arts under Western Canadian stars this summer". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Zeke the temperamental donkey to return to the Drumheller Passion Play". CBC News. July 6, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ "Red Deer actor walks in the sandals of Jesus in Badlands Passion Play. - Red Deer Advocate". www.reddeeradvocate.com. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Brown, Bob. "Passion Play draws near record crowds". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Badlands Amphitheatre". www.travelalberta.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Country singer Paul Brandt plays Badlands Amphitheater". Drumheller Mail. 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Bachman in the Badlands Amphitheatre, Alberta's Premier Outdoor Live Concert Venue, Saturday, August 26". Gateway Gazette. 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Ian Tyson bows out of upcoming Drumheller performance due to serious health concerns". CTV News. 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Ian Tyson cancels appearance due to 'unexpected and serious medical situation'". CBC News. August 17, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Bob. "Corb Lund plays to sold out crowd". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Roe, Jon (January 16, 2019). "Jann Arden comes to the Badlands Amp for 'an intimate evening'". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Ruckman, Allie. "Jann Arden Well Received at Badlands Amphitheater". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Ruckman, Allie. "Walk Off The Earth Takes on Mother Nature at Badlands Amphitheater". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Blanke, Jason (August 23, 2022). "Great Big Weekend Huge Success For Badlands Amphitheatre". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ a b Blanke, Jason (February 9, 2023). "The Great Big Weekend Is Back At The Badlands Amphitheatre". DrumhellerOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.