Savoy Theatre prepares to celebrate 100th anniversary

It's one of the oldest live theatres in Canada. The Savoy has been providing entertainment for Cape Breton for almost a century. Next year, the iconic theatre celebrates its 100th anniversary. The Savoy for us is home. I've been thinking. Oh my jeez. Beth MacDonald launched her career on the Savoy stage as a member of the Cape Breton Summertime Review, which will return in June of next year. I've always called the Savoy the jewel of Cape Breton, which I believe it is. and this is where everybody wanted to to land you know anybody who was a performer a singer an actor a comedian whatever everybody wanted to get to the Savoy stage because it's so iconic the history of this place and the people who played here Sammy Davis Jr. played on this stage and then he went to the owners or the manager at the time but it was really the owner at the time to his house to sleep other big names include Leonard Cohen who played the Savoy in 2008 and of course the theater has been home to local legends as well the historic venue was one of rita's favorites the fact that this theater can boast that caliber of talent along with Kate Bretton's own caliber of talent because we have so much here there is so much history in the earlier years the theater was home to local events such as weddings and even funerals it was used as a movie theater until the 1970s when it was purchased by the town and renovated a fire nearly destroyed the building in 1991. we had rehearsed in here and i believe we had done a couple of shows and then we we got notice at home that the show was not going to happen that night because of the fire a lot of our costumes were destroyed the centennial celebrations will include a lineup of old favorites and new shows in 2027 and promises to be one of the busiest years to date I hope people come to the to the celebrations that will recognize the fact that this place has been going on so long. The major milestone will officially be marked in January. Kyle Moore, CBC News, Glace Bay.