GENERAL HISTORY

Introduction

Broadway Avenue is one of Saskatoon’s most eclectic and historical streets. It’s known for its wide variety of businesses, old style buildings, and vintage aesthetic. Broadway’s colorful history contains success to decline and then success again.

The First Major Street

Broadway Avenue was one of the first major streets in Saskatoon. The street was originally in the settlement known as Nutana, which joined with the village of Saskatoon and the village of Riversdale to become the City of Saskatoon on July 1, 1906. Broadway Avenue was intended to be the major business district for the east side of the river. Even in its current form the area surrounding Broadway contains some of the oldest buildings in Saskatoon, such as the Marr Residence and the Broadway Theatre. The street was named for its large width as a team of two or more horses could do a U-turn without having to go around the block. It acted as the major business district for the east side of the river until its decline in the 1950s.

Period of Decline

The street went into a period of decline in the 1950s. This is attributed to the development of the 8th Street business district. During this time, crime rates rose and building construction in the surrounding neighborhood slowed down. This was most famously characterized by a major change to the Broadway Theatre of becoming a predominately adult movie theatre. This lasted until the mid-1980s, when the street went through a period of gentrification and revival.

Revamp

The 1980s brought change to Broadway Avenue. The street, while in a period of decline, was still a high traffic location due to the Broadway Bridge. A group of local merchants decided to create the Better Broadway Improvement District (BBID). This organization, established on August 25, 1986, lobbied Saskatoon’s city hall for funds to refurbish Broadway. The City covered much of the expense to re-do the street’s sidewalks and street furniture. Original facades were restored in several buildings and public art installations started to appear on the street.

Broadway Today

In its current form, Broadway is home to some of Saskatoon’s finest businesses and activities. From music venues to alternative coffee shops to the Potash Corp Fringe Festival and everything in between, Broadway has it all.

Bibliography

Bothwell, Robert, Ian M Drummond, and John English. 1982. Canada Since 1945. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Duerkop, John D. 2000. Saskatoon's History In Street Names. Saskatoon, Sask.: Purich Pub.

Mcleod, John. Do it Anyway.

O'Brien, Jeff. 2005. A History Of Saskatoon To 1914. Ebook. 1st ed. Saskatoon: City of Saskatoon.

Onbroadway.ca,. 2015. 'BBID - About Us'. Accessed February 2.

Fringe

The Saskatoon Potash Corp Fringe Theatre Festival is one of most Saskatoon’s widely celebrated summer festivals. The Festival features accessible, affordable theatre performed by independent theatre artists from around the world.

The Fringe Festival is said to be a descendant from Vaudeville theatre. On the crowded streets, you will be swept into various different venues displaying an array of talent from theatre performers, visual artist, and musicians. At the Saskatoon Fringe, there is really something for everyone!

Fringe History

The PotashCorp Fringe Theatre Festival is presented annually on Broadway in late July by 25th Street Theatre Inc. The 25th Street Theatre House Players was founded in 1972 as an artists’ collective. In 1974, 25th Street Theatre became the first professional theatre company in Saskatoon. In 2000, the 25th Street Theatre Company decided to move out of active production due to financial issues and problems with the theatre space. Luckily, the company continued to run the Saskatoon Fringe. Saskatoon’s first Fringe was held in the summer of 1989 at the Duchess Street theatre venue, when touring Fringe theatre artists stopped in Saskatoon between Winnipeg and Edmonton Fringes. Artistic Director Tom Bentley imagined Broadway Avenue as a destination for a community theatre event, and in 1990, The Fringe moved to Broadway Avenue with a successful attendance of 6,000 patrons. Today, The PotashCorp Fringe Theatre Festival has become a staple in the Saskatoon art and culture community and brings audiences into the city from all around the world.

What Else to Do at the Fringe Festival?

The Fringe Festival is not just theatre. During the Festival, Broadway Avenue is closed to traffic and filled with various venders, street performers, and buskers. Venders range from local artists, restaurants and food trucks, and an international market. Local musicians busk for change on the street. Guerilla theatre performances happen without warning throughout the street. Food venders and trucks cook and sell local and international cuisine. Even for non-theatre fans, the Fringe Festival has something to offer!

What is Fringe Theatre?

• Fringe theatre festivals are festivals of self-produced theatrical works.
  
• Unlike conventional theatre festivals, which use a jury selection process, many fringe theatre festivals choose their plays based on a lottery system.
  
• Any performer may apply, amateur or professional, with no restrictions on style or content.
  
• Fringe theatre began in the 1940s with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and in 1982, Canada’s own Edmonton, Alberta was the third Fringe Festival in the WORLD!
  

Venues

• Broadway Theatre – is located on 715 Broadway Avenue
  
• Cosmo – the Cosmo Seniors Centre (Kinsmen Hall) is located on 614 11th Street East, beside the Hose and Hydrant
  
• Refinery – located on 609 Dufferin Avenue, just off Broadway Avenue
  
• Victoria Auditorium – Victoria School is located 639 Broadway Avenue (entrance via 11th behind school)
  
• Victoria Gym – Victoria School, 639 Broadway Avenue, entrance on 12th street
  

Fringe 2015

This year, The PotashCorp Fringe Theatre Festival will start July 30 and run until Aug 8, 2015. The streets will be closed to traffic from 6 pm - 10:30 pm on weekdays and noon - 10:30 pm on weekends and holiday Monday.

How to Buy Fringe Tickets

All tickets are $14.00 or less. There are serval ways to purchase tickets:

• On the website (25thstreettheatre.org/theatre) via PayPal (tickets can be bought until 9pm on the night before any performance)
  
• Over the phone (306)-664-2239
  
• In person at the box office (debit/credit/cash accepted). This is currently the only place you can buy a Frequent Fringe 5 pack or KidsFringe 3 pack. Box office hours will be 3pm – 9 pm daily during the festival.
  

On the day of a performance, tickets for that show can only be bought at each venue, as rush tickets, within one hour before the show (and it is cash-only).

This Year’s Lineup

International

• Randy Rutherford
  
• Erik de Waal
  
• Howard Petrick
  
• Maryclare McCauley
  
• WONDERHEADS
  
• Tim Motley
  
• Portal Theatre
  
• A Little Bit Off
  

National

• Matt Falk Comedy
  
• Leland Klassen
  
• Life & Depth
  
• Chris Funk Magic
  
• TJ Dawe
  
• Stephanie Morin-Robert
  

Provincial

• Ground Cover Theater
  
• Shadow Players
  
• Little Big Theatre
  
• Within Theatre
  
• Grahame Kent
  
• Theatre Howl
  
• Maureen Ulrich
  

KidsFringe

• Sisterscene
  
• Shadow Players
  
• Erik de Waal, Produced by ArtsDiva Productions
  

For more information check out the Fringe Fest website