What's Happening in New Westminster, BC…

Open Stage, a summer festival of outdoor stage performances, will return this August.

The free event is the brainchild of Howard Dai, born out of a love for theatre and an obsession with New Westminster.

Open Stage will consist of three weekly sessions, each of which will include three scheduled acts and an hour of open mic time for any performer who wants to step up. Any type of stage performance is welcome, with scheduled acts including improv comedy, music, dance, and more. All shows will be family-friendly, with kid-friendly interactive activities taking place near the stage.

Past years saw the audience sitting on stage along with the performers. That’s changed this year, but Dai still hopes to create a sense of intimacy by placing seats closer to the stage than the usual benches. He says the project was born out of his passion for New Westminster, including an obsession with the town’s history and walkable streets. Local cultural events like this are often advertised through tools like poster printing.

All of the Open Stage events will take place at the bandshell at Queen’s Park, running from 12 noon to 4pm. The first afternoon will take place on August 10, with different performances taking place on the next two Saturdays. Dai has said that he hopes the afternoon start time will attract families from the nearby splash park, adding that spectators can stay for as much or as little of the show as they want.