Citadel School (Citadel Theatre and Academy)

From our spot hovering over City Hall, look across Churchill Square. Let’s slip this carpet over, so we can peek in the north facing windows to the Citadel Theatre and take in the green of the Lee Pavilion. The history of the Citadel Theatre as one of the largest not-for profit theatres in North America speaks to the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of the arts community of Edmonton, from past to present. The current vision statement says that the Citadel seeks to be Inclusive, Innovative, and International in its programming and practices. From its early days the Citadel championed theatre education and creative development. Building on that skill set and collection of educational assets, it is now also home to an Inquiring Minds site.

During these “interesting times” of Covid-19, combating the impact of social isolation on mental health requires creativity. With classic Edmonton spirit, the Citadel’s  The Stuck in the House series is supported by the Edmonton Community Foundation.

Doug Mertz, Director of Education and Outreach, came to the Citadel in 2009, and putting his Masters in Performance Pedagogy to good use shouldered the Citadel’s Young Company in 2010. He remembers his first contact with Inquiring Minds. Linda Hut, the neighbour across the square reached out to borrow a cup of sugar. Actually, Linda wanted to bring a City Hall School class for tour and Doug wanted to know more about what she was doing. Before long, in the spring of 2017, he found himself piloting an Inquiring Minds’ week. And it would be an understatement to say Doug took to it like a duck to water.

Teachers (and most of the public) don’t how many people are involved in a theatre production, Doug says. The diversity of skills needed behind the scenes (I love how we incorporate theatre terminology as a basic element of Inquiring Minds) require knowledge of Math and Science not just Language Arts and Drama. No one stops to think about how accountants can be important in a theatre, but of course they are.

Doug’s favorite moments are those of his first reveal of each Citadel performance space; the moment of quiet wonder, heads swiveling to take in the venue. Those reactions are something he never gets tired of.

The Inquiring Minds website describes Citadel School (Citadel Theatre and Academy) this way:

Spend the week immersed in the performing arts! Students will get to explore the Citadel Theatre from the inside out through the lens of curriculum-based activities integrating drama, music, improvisation, theatre history and much more. Students will learn by doing as well as by interviewing the many people who contribute to our theatre season. This will help them to gain an understanding and appreciation of the collaboration, innovation and creativity that go into making a successful production. By spending a week in the Arts District downtown, students will learn about the importance that Arts and Culture have within our community.

Look at the Citadel’s Student Experiences webpage. https://www.citadeltheatre.com/artists-learning/student-experiences

Do you want to know more? Contact Doug at dmertz@citadeltheatre.com

You can start your application process at the Inquiring Minds website. https://ourinquiringminds.wordpress.com/application/