Volunteer couple celebrates 20+ years of date nights with Theatre Calgary

Volunteers John and Angela celebrate more than 20 years of date nights with Theatre Calgary

Angela and her husband, John, began their journey with Theatre Calgary more than 20 years ago. Their first show was a date night to come and see A Christmas Carol, and they have been coming back ever since (nearly as long as Stephen Hair has been playing Scrooge).

After nearly 10 years as patrons of the theatre, Angela decided to join a friend as a volunteer with the theatre.

“It was a way of contributing to the community while also benefitting from experiencing the performing arts scene in Calgary in an economical way.”

After a few years of volunteering, Angela shares she was volunteering for To Kill A Mocking Bird, and it turned out she was placed in the same section Jon was seated as a patron. The couple watched the show together, and that was the night John decided to join Angela as a volunteer, and their Saturday date night was born.

A decade later, their Saturday night date night continues, both taking on a variety of roles in the theatre together. And while they’re not always side-by-side, Angela shares her favourite nights are when they are working the doors together in the Orchestra, and the love birds can sneak waves to each other across the theatre.

While they’ve shared countless memories and shows together, Angela shares a treasured memory of theirs is when one of her favourite stories, Anne of Green Gables, came to the Theatre Calgary stage. The couple volunteered twice during its run, then went a third time with their family.

“Not only do I love musicals, but Anne of Green Gables has always been a favourite of mine since I received the trilogy of books as a Christmas gift when I was a teenager in 1974.”

Angela and John shared the story continued when they celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary in the Maritimes, where they paid homage to Lucy Maud Montgomery and Anne. They stayed in Cavendish, near L.M. Montgomery’s gravesite, visiting Avonlea, Green Gables and travelling to Charlottetown to see the Musical Anne and Gilbert. Their Theatre Calgary experience had come full circle.

The couple continues volunteering and supporting the performing arts as it makes them proud to be Calgarians.

“After moving to Calgary 30 years ago, I guess you can say, we are finally at home!”

Thank you to John and Angela, and more than 400 Theatre Calgary volunteers, for generously donating your time to Theatre Calgary. Happy International Volunteer Day!