Musical theatre is coming to a park near you! And tickets are free.
Every year, SUM Theatre’s series fittingly titled Theatre in the Park seems to up its game. This year, the troupe’s production of “wâhkôhtowin” features incredible talents and voices, original music you’ll find yourself singing along to in real time, a live band, an uplifting message, and easy, welcoming crowd participation that ends with kids on “stage” cheering because together, they solved the problem. My daughter Petra had the opportunity to attend with her school so when I asked if we could head to another date so her brother could see it, too, her eagerness told me what I needed to know: this play is a must-do for families in Saskatoon this season.
When you head to the park to take in one of these shows, the first thing you’ll see other than SUM’s tent is the bright and inventive set. Seating is in the round which had me confused at first (I wanted the best spot!) but Petra assured me there was “no front to the play” and sure enough, the setup of stage blocking, speakers, alongside plenty of movement, meant no one was ever struggling to see or hear.
The theme of “wâhkôhtowin” is environmental harmony and working together for a balanced ecosystem, but it also touches on connection within our communities. It’s timely, it’s thought-provoking, and the ideas are presented in a way that engages kids. And my husband and I appreciated the adult jokes that sailed right over the kiddo’s heads.
Here are the dates and locations of SUM Theatre in the Park’s “wâhkôhtowin” production in Saskatoon:
Saskatoon & Area Performances
May 5th - Adelaide Park (Adelaide/Churchill - PREVIEW) 7pm
May 6th - Chief Darcy Bear Park (Nutana - OPENING) 7pm
May 8th - Alexander MacGillivray Young Park (Stonebridge) 1pm & 4pm (ASL Performance)
May 9th - W.J.L. Harvey Park North (Silverwood Heights) 7pm
May 10th - Wilson Park (City Park) 7pm
May 11th - Grace Adam Metawewinihk Park (Pleasant Hill) 7pm. (ASL Performance)
May 12th - Al Anderson Park (Hampton Village) 7pm
Mat 13th - Swick Park ( Rosewood) 7pm
May 15th - G.D. Archibald Memorial Park (Richmond Heights) 2pm & 7pm (ASL Performance)
May 16th - Grosvenor Park (Grosvenor) 7pm
May 17th - Mount Royal Park (Mount Royal) 7pm
May 18th - Optimist Park (Riversdale) 7pm (ASL Performance)
May 19th - Ashworth Holmes Park (Caswell Hill) 4pm - 7pm
May 20th - Les Kerr Park (Forest Grove) 7pm
May 22nd - H.S. Sears Park (Fairhaven) 2pm (ASL Performance)
May 23rd - Dr. Seager Wheeler Park (Westview) 7pm
May 24th - Lakeview Park (Lakeview) 7pm
May 25th - A.H. Browne Park (Mayfair) 7pm (ASL Performance)
May 26th - Silverspring Park (Silverspring) 7pm
May 27th - Weaver Park (Queen Elizabeth/Exhibition/Haultain) 7pm
May 29th - Diamond Park (Warman) 2pm (ASL Performance)
May 29th - Lions Park (Martensville) 7pm (ASL Performance)
May 30th - Montgomery Park (Montgomery) 7pm
May 31st - Robert Hunter East Park (River Heights) 7pm
June 1st - Parc Canada (Confederation) 7pm (ASL Performance)
June 2nd - Kinsmen Park (Rosetown)7pm
June 3rd - Buena Vista School ( Buena Vista - CLOSING) 7pm
You can click here for Regina and Northern Saskatchewan dates.
Also of note is that the Saskatoon Public Library has curated a reading list to accompany this play. I hope you’ll be able to take in a showing of SUM’s summer offering, it’s a truly unique event and it is fully sponsored (the title sponsor is TD Canada Trust but here’s a full list) so there is no cost to your family. Love this recommendation? Be sure to follow me on Instagram where I share about plenty of family-friendly local activities and events!
xo Maygen
