This May, Theatre Cambrian will present Miss Saigon, a modern-day Madame Butterfly set during the Vietnam War. The elaborate and lush musical extravaganza will be the highlight of the community theatre company's ambitious 26th season.

Theatre Cambrian has the support of the entire community. Directors, performers, technical crew and stagehands donate their time and talent. An army of volunteers keeps the house running smoothly. Ticket sales pay most of the bills with help from business donations, government grants and media sponsorships. (As a non-professional theatre, Theatre Cambrian isn't eligible for most of the grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.) Despite its own financial needs, Theatre Cambrian has hosted benefit nights for other non-profit organizations this season.

Established in 1985 by artistic director Jamie J. Bourget, Theatre Cambrian has attracted a large and loyal audience while introducing a new generation to the magic of live theatre.

It provides a venue for singers, dancers, musicians, and theatrical technicians to develop their skills. Alumni include singers Pandora Topp, Kevin Closs and Amber J. Hicks, the founder of Murder by Appointment, Derek Hagen, who is currently appearing in a London's West End musical, Lisa Humber who has worked as a stage manager in Stratford, and Jordon Dawe who appeared in the movie Mean Girls with Rachel McAdams.

Theatre Cambrian produced two plays in its first season; this season it mounted three mainstage musicals (The Best of Billboard, Singin' in the Rain, and Miss Saigon) and four dinner theatre productions, as well as a dinner theatre festival in January, Kids' Curtain productions, a March Break Dramafest, and Summertime Stage youth drama camp.

“Theatre Cambrian contributes to the cultural, artistic and economic profile of this community,” says executive director Mark Mannisto, who has been involved with Theatre Cambrian for 15 years. His first experience was a role in the 1995 production of A Christmas Carol.

Theatre Cambrian has won numerous awards for productions such as The Lion in Winter, The Taming of the Shrew, Dangerous Liaisons and Crimes of the Heart. Other productions such as CATS, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Evita, and Jesus Christ Superstar sold out night after night.

Cambrian College played a supporting role in the theatre group's success for many years, but after 19 years, it had other priorities. Theatre Cambrian needed a new home.

The city has a shortage of performing art space.

“We didn't know where to turn, where to go! We had to literally reinvent ourselves and find other ways of reaching out to the community,” says Mannisto.

Prayers were answered when St. Eugene Parish on Eyre St. was put up for sale. The board and staff saw its potential for Theatre Cambrian and for the entire artistic community.

Plans call for a $2.2 million renovation that will have two theatre spaces.

“It will be able to house all of Theatre Cambrian's activities. Also the theatre will be made available to other arts groups to explore their ability as well as to nurture and foster the public appreciation in all different avenues of arts and culture,” Mannisto says.

In addition, space converted to student residences and hall rentals will help support theatre projects.

The plans for the renovations are complete; now Theatre Cambrian has to raise the money. In the meantime, it is renting theatre spaces at other venues, and using its own space for innovative productions such as last year's West Side Story.

Theatre Cambrian has evolved into a prominent, well-respected community theatre. The accomplishments have been many, and the future promises many more.