Burnaby set to lose community access to Michael J. Fox Theatre

The Burnaby School District says it can no longer afford to operate the Michael J. Fox Theatre as a community theatre.

The Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby has been a place for a variety of local performances since 1993, but now that’s all at risk.

Starting July 1, the Burnaby School District will end community access to the space.

The school district has recently been forced into $4.2 million in cuts and is losing money on operating the theatre.

Once simply part of the theatre’s board alongside the non-profit operator, when that operator had a change in management, the school board took full responsibility for operating the theatre last year.

“Those were all incredibly difficult cuts that we faced, and that is above and beyond what we’re now faced with having a community theatre as well,” Burnaby Board of Education Chair Kristin Schnider told CTV News on Thursday. “That community theatre itself does run at a loss. In the current fiscal year, they’re running at an approximately $150,000 loss.”

Schnider says operating the theatre is beyond the school district’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 mandate, though even when it closes to community use, it will be used for school activities.

Still, the district is in talks with the City of Burnaby about potentially operating the venue.

“We’re really proud of the longstanding history that the theatre has had in the community of Burnaby,” Schnider said. “We’re hopeful that there will be an opportunity to have it run as a community theatre. It just cannot be done with the Burnaby School District at the helm.”

Beyond the loss of this space for community events, 11 stagehands at the venue will be put out of work, with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees telling CTV News those workers have been given an 11-week working notice.

“I really think the Burnaby (city) council should take this opportunity to make sure that this vital theatre continues to serve the residents of Burnaby,” Damian Petti, an international vice-president for IATSE, told CTV News.

IATSE has created a website and petition urging the City of Burnaby to step in and operate the theatre.

“There’s a shortage of theatre infrastructure for performing arts, and so the loss of this venue will have a deep impact on the cultural scene in Burnaby,” said Petti.

The City of Burnaby did not have anyone available for comment on Thursday, but told CTV News that its staff has been examining the feasibility of getting involved with the theatre in some way.

In the meantime, lovers of the arts are left to wait – and hope – that this isn’t this venue’s last act as a community theatre.

CTV News attempted to reach actor Michael J. Fox through a talent agency, but did not receive a response by deadline.