The end of summer isn’t all bad, as with it comes the new season at the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook. The 2010/11 season features performances for all ages and something for different tastes.

“Part of our goal is to have a variety and not just bring in the most popular shows. There’s got to be a variety of stuff because everyone deserves a chance to see what they like and not everyone has the same taste,” said Patrick LeBlanc, the theatre’s general manager. “As a non-profit society that’s part of our mandate, to have that variety.”

There is certainly huge choice in the coming season. It all starts Oct. 6 with Hank Williams 1952 and then A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline on Nov. 5.

“The Hank Williams and the Patsy Cline shows are musical theatre tributes to the artists so they are more than just a concert, they are theatre as well. My thought with that is you also get a little bit of insight into who those people were, which I think is more than just a concert,” LeBlanc said. “Hank Williams 1952 is being billed as the performance he never gave because he died on the way to the show in the back of his limo. The guy who is doing this has toured across Canada and he’s getting rave reviews for his performance.”

Starting off the Christmas season is Barra MacNeils Christmas on Nov. 21. The group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture and dance. The next show will be in the new year on Feb. 5 and is brought to you by the famous Second City Comedy Troupe. Stephen Harper! the Musical tells the story of the Prime Minister’s advisers trying to turn things around after a scandal leaves the PM low in the polls before an election. The advisors come up with a winning strategy: create a musical about Harper’s life for Broadway.

Later in February Ted Outerbridge in the Time Capsule Tour will present a performance that takes the art of illusion to new heights by combining it with dance and theatre. One of the highlights of the show is the prediction of the contents of a time capsule at each performance venue.

Ballet Kelowna will performa at the key City Theatre on March 5 and following that, on March 11, will be blues musician Harry Manx. On April 19 will be Circus Terrifico by MOTUS O, a show both adults and children will enjoy. Tickets for that show are $12.50.

“It’s only an hour long, the perfect time for kids and it’s basically comedy, dance, theatre, juggling, all those kinds of things. The premise is these three circus performers get stuck waiting for a train so they decide to put on show right there,” LeBlanc said. “It’s like running away to the circus for an hour. It’s just great for kids.”

To wrap up the season Roman Danylo, star of CTV’s Comedy Inc will perform a variety comedy show of sketch, stand-up and improv. Local Mary Schatschneider will be a special guest of the performance.

Although not part of the Key City Theatre’s season, there are a few shows that featuring local performers that will take place. Dec. 15-18 Mount Baker Secondary School will put on A Christmas Carol The Musical, Billy Jive and the Funktastics will help you ditch the January blahs with a tribute to disco/funk tunes of the 1970s and Bard in Your Own Backyard will present Taming of the Shrew from Jan. 27 to Feb. 1.

Subscriptions are now available to be purchased at the Key City Theatre box office as are memberships. A subscription allows you to buy tickets to the shows you want to see at one time for a discounted price. Also you can choose your seat for each show.

Memberships start at $25 and allow you to purchase tickets at a discounted price.

The Key City Theatre is always looking for volunteers to help out on performance nights. Training for volunteers will be held in September.

For more information on shows, subscriptions and volunteering call 250-426-7006 or visit the web site at www.keycitytheatre.com.