The Canmore Summer Theatre Festival~ One Stage, Two Great Plays, Theatre In The Mountains 

The Pine Tree Players’ Canmore Summer Theatre Festival returns, set amid the stunning mountain backdrop of Centennial Park’s outdoor Stan Rogers Memorial Stage. The July sunshine, mountain silhouettes, and lush green lawn blend perfectly to create an inviting venue for theater lovers.

The Summer Theatre Festival fuses budding community actors with theatre professionals and emerging artists, offering a rich artistic exchange. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the festival delivers two full-scale outdoor productions, balancing light family fare and sharp comedic drama.

The first feature is The Wizard of Oz, adapted by Erin Detrick (from L. Frank Baum), in a fast-paced, imaginative retelling of the classic tale. This production runs daily at 1 pm, with performances from July 9 to July 20 (no shows on July 14 and 15).

As twilight falls, the stage lights up for Treasure Island, directed by Kelsey James and adapted by Mary Zimmerman. This high-energy pirate adventure includes stage combat, puppetry, movement, and choral singing. Showtimes are set for 7 pm, spanning July 9–13 and July 16–19.

Both plays are presented free of age restrictions—perfectly family-friendly—and provide about 70 minutes of delightful entertainment under the open sky. Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets for a relaxed day of mountain theatre.

Whether you’re a Canmore local or a visitor passing through, this festival is a warm reminder of what makes summer performances magical: family gatherings under the sky, laughter echoing through the trees, and captivating storytelling inspired by our shared love for theatre.

FUN FACTS! :

The Summer Theatre Festival is made up of:

• 1 stage
• 2 plays
• 18 performances
• 28 production team members
• 37 actors: with some playing multiple roles
• 75 volunteers
• 90 costumes
• 120 props
• 1,000 audience members
• 3,000 volunteer hours

Pine Tree Players is Canmore’s non-profit community theatre company founded in 1978. Since then, they’ve been schools of creativity and inclusion for the Bow Valley, drawing on local talent to stage vibrant productions throughout the year.

If you’ve ever dreamed of joining the fun, Pine Tree welcomes you!