Doors Open Brampton Community Spotlight with The Rose and Brampton On Stage

Have you ever walked by a particular building in your neighbourhood and wondered about the story behind its door? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Our in-person and online tutors are big fans of Doors Open Ontario, which provides access to historic sites, tours, and experiences for the public. The Teachers on Call online and in-person tutoring service has been blogging about these free events all spring and summer long. This fall season we are celebrating Doors Open by sharing community spotlight interviews with some of the feature participants. Our president, Joanne Sallay, is selecting unique sites which are of interest to our education community. While Doors Open Brampton has 7 in-person places to explore on Saturday, September 9, 2023, we particularly wanted to learn more about Brampton On Stage and The Rose. As educators, we support the importance of engaging students in performance arts as part of their overall learning. Read on for our interview with the creative team at Brampton On Stage and The Rose!

What is Doors Open Ontario and how does it work?

During select weekends between April to October 2023, participating cities across Ontario are opening many heritage sites, as well as modern and historic buildings to the public, all in partnership with Ontario Heritage Trust, local businesses, organizations and volunteers. Often, many of these attractions do not open their doors to the public – or let you go on exclusive behind the scenes tours.

Since it’s unlikely to visit them all in one day or two, our in-person and online tutoring service is spotlighting participants this September and October from each community.

Teachers on Call’s Brampton Community Spotlight

There are several iconic locations to visit and learn about during the Doors Open events, and the best part is: they’re absolutely free to attend. In this blog, we’re featuring Doors Open Brampton with 7 in-person sites to discover, including The Rose and Brampton On Stage. Read on for our interview with their creative team.

An Interview with Brampton On Stage and The Rose

For anyone hearing about Brampton On Stage and The Rose for the first time, how would you describe it?

Brampton On Stage is our new umbrella branding that celebrates our venues – The Rose Mainstage & Studio, LBP, Cyril Clark, and Garden Square. Together, our venues create an interrelated, city-wide campus. The Rose is a remarkable venue designed with a main theatre and secondary space that can be used simultaneously and accommodate up to 1000 people. The Rose is our flagship venue, located in the heart of Downtown Brampton (1 Theatre Ln, Brampton, ON L6V 0A3). This stunning building is home to two performance spaces. The main theatre provides the perfect backdrop for world-class acts. It has incredible acoustics, an intimate feel despite its large size and there isn’t a bad seat in the house!

Some people may be surprised to learn that Brampton has a state of the art performing arts centre. What is the history behind The Rose?

The Rose Theatre opened its doors in 2006. It was built to replace the aging Heritage Theatre. The name “The Rose” was given to pay homage to Brampton’s roots. Throughout most of the last century, Brampton enjoyed an international reputation as ‘The Flower Town of Canada’. At one point, there were over 48 nurseries whose businesses were devoted to the growing of hothouse flowers. The largest of these was the Dale Estate located at the northern limits of the town occupying both sides of the main street, with greenhouses stretching east to the Etobicoke Creek and west to the CPR rail line.

Is this your first year participating in Doors Open Brampton? What can visitors expect?

Brampton On Stage has been participating in Doors Open for several years. Visitors coming to The Rose will be lead through our venue by the friendly and knowledgeable Front of House team. They will receive the star treatment as they walk through the backstage areas of the venue. This year visitors can also participate in a virtual tour of LBP Brampton, located in the heart of Bramalea.

What types of productions do you host throughout the year?

We host a wide range of artistic programming, concerts, special events, and experiences for communities including concerts, comedy shows, live theatre, live music, family shows and more! Plus, we also host Arts Adventures, our education series for schools, and will be launching new programs for all ages with Lifelong Learning. Additionally, audiences can enjoy programming across the city in parks and public spaces. Supported by Performing Arts, these programs are free, accessible and include Canada Day Celebrations, DJ Skate Nights, and more.

How does The Rose make the theatre experience accessible to patrons of all ages?

Brampton On Stage values diversity and inclusiveness and recognizes that enhancing access to goods and services provides increased opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. We are committed to offering an accessible, safe, and barrier-free patron experience. We strive to not only to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, but also to design spaces, programs and policies that ensure full access to all activities for all members of the community. Please contact the Box Office before your visit to let us know how we can best accommodate you.

It’s obvious your organization believes in supporting education. Please tell us more about Arts Adventures and the Performing Arts Brampton Education Series.

Arts Adventures provides opportunities for students to experience live performances that inspire, educate, and entertain. The arts have always been an integral part of a quality education; a way to share histories, illustrate ideas, and establish collective understanding as a larger community. All of the shows have curriculum connections, and many come with Study Guides full of resources and activities.

What other programs, conferences and employment opportunities are available for students?

We offer $15 student and child tickets available for all shows! Students looking for employment opportunities are encouraged to visit Brampton.ca. Students can work with our Artist Services, Front of House, Food and Beverage, Operations, or Box Office teams.

For anyone interested in becoming more involved, what types of volunteer opportunities and programs are there to engage and support your purpose?

The Customer Experience Student Ambassador Program offers secondary and post-secondary students the opportunity to complete volunteer hours required for an educational program in which they are enrolled. Volunteering is a valuable opportunity to learn more about oneself and career opportunities, as well as gain self-confidence and work experience. Student Customer Experience Ambassadors report to the Coordinator, Volunteer Services, and will greet and assist guests at City of Brampton Performing Arts venues.

We hope you enjoy learning more about The Rose and Brampton On Stage. If you are interested to visit additional sites on Saturday, you can access the full list through the official Doors Open Brampton website. Alternatively, if you live closer to Belleville you are in luck, as Doors Open Belleville is taking place the same weekend!