Great changes have been underway at Festival Hall this summer, with a brand new team, attitude and projected new look and feel.

“We have started a much needed facelift to the 600 plus soft-seater,” said new Festival Hall director Rick Wharton. “It is a glorious theatre and the biggest in the Ottawa Valley. A new logo has been designed and the title of ‘Centre for the Arts’ has been added.”

Mr. Wharton explained that the ‘Centre for the Arts’ title encompasses the new feel and acknowledges that the theatre is open to all of the arts, namely visual, music, theatre, comedy, drama, film, and dance. He and the Valley Arts Council are hard at work trying to secure much needed funds for updating sound, light, and other theatre requirements.

The lineup that has been booked for this fall at Festival Hall is full of shows that are jam-packed with excitement and loads of talent. With shows booked all the way into November and a different event each month, there’s something at Festival Hall for everyone. The upcoming fall line-up starting in September includes shows such as:

• Sing-A-Long Grease

Saturday, Sept. 22 – 7 p.m.

Starting the season off with a bang is the exciting official Sing-A-Long Grease, with on-screen lyrics so that everyone can join in on the fun! Hosted by local favourite Michael Curtis and starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, it will follow a Classic Car Show and Shine at 5 p.m. outside of Festival Hall. There will also be prizes for the best 1950’s costume, and loot bags will be available for purchase. Tickets for Grease are on sale now at the Festival Hall box office for $20 each, which includes all taxes and fees; group rates and student rates are also available. Tickets purchased on the day of the show will be $25.

• Interactive Rocky Horror Picture Show

Friday, Oct. 19 – 7p.m.

Coming in October as a Valley Arts Council fundraiser in celebration of Halloween is the interactive and hilariously fun Interactive Rocky Horror Picture Show, premiering Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at Festival Hall. Advanced ticket prices will be $20 each.

• Lunch at Allen’s

Friday, Oct. 26 – 7:30 p.m.

Top Canadian singer-songwriters Lunch at Allen’s is an extraordinary musical revue by internationally renowned artists Murray McLauchlin, Cindy Church, Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas. This concert is an intimate and humorous performance by some of Canada’s finest musicians. Lunch at Allen’s will be held at Festival Hall on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m., and will also feature special guest Andrea Wappel. Tickets are on sale now at the Festival Hall box office for $38 each, and tickets purchased at the door will be available for $45.

• John McDermott – “Salute 2 Our Troops”

Sunday, Nov. 11 – 2:30 p.m.

This Nov. 11 will be a day of remembrance but also a day to remember.

John McDermott will be performing a concert at Festival Hall as a salute to our troops on Sunday, Nov. 11, which will include special guests as well as remembrance readings and performances. This concert will be held at a special time after the Remembrance Day ceremonies, and tickets are now on sale for $35 each, or $29 with military and veteran I.D., with all taxes and fees included. Tickets purchased at the door will be $40. Part of the proceeds will be directed to Stewie’s Angels Camp for children of fallen soldiers.

The board of directors at Festival Hall and the Valley Arts Council have also been working to make it easier for their audiences, user groups, and performers to access information about upcoming events and what is going on throughout the Hall. The first ever Festival Hall website, as well as a Facebook page, are now up and running, which have created very easy, convenient ways to find out what is going on in the community and at Festival Hall.

All show dates, ticket prices, information, and upcoming events can be found on the website at www.festhall.ca, or “like” Festival Hall on Facebook for updates and information regarding shows and performances.

The Valley Arts Council and Festival Hall’s director Mr. Wharton are pleased to renew relationships with popular user groups that have attracted their own audiences over the years from all over the Ottawa Valley. These user groups include the Pembroke Symphony, Kiwanis, Sears Drama Festival, Atyeo’s School of Dance, Michelle’s School of Performing Arts, Starz in Motion, Green Tomato Productions, and Streetlight Theatre Company.

Mr. Wharton’s enthusiasm is unbridled about the hall and the new possibilities and vision.

“2013 is going to be even more exciting. We’re planning on Vinyl Café, Stuart Mclean, CBC’S Gerry Dee, the Canadian Comedy Awards Funniest Person in the Valley show, the return of Sunday afternoon matinees, Coronation Street, a hockey festival and a dog festival, and Wharton’s Alumni Troup the Second City. I don’t plan on sleeping for the next two years. The hall will be fun again.”