Although the building itself has been standing on Osborne for nearly 100 years, the Park Theatre’s current format celebrates its sixth year in existence this month. Before that, it would have taken a special eye to see what the old and abandoned building could become.

Thankfully, those were the very eyes that set upon it.

“We wanted to buy this boarded up building and make something of it,” says Erick Casselman, owner and operator of the Park Theatre.

Starting off six years ago as a café and DVD rental shop, Casselman showed art house and classic movies until the film studios became less cooperative. It was at this point, almost two years after first opening the theatre, that local musician J.P. Hoe suggested to Casselman that he open the space to local artists as a music venue.

With its giant stage, comfortable seating and ample dance floor, the last four years have seen the Park become one of the premier live venues in the city.

Casselman credits a simple formula.

“First and foremost we have great sound, we give the artist a big stage. We make the Park Theatre about the artist,” he says. “We really put the emphasis on the fact that you’re here to watch these great artists that we’re lucky to have.”

Casselman’s artist-oriented passion for music and performance has attracted an extensive and diverse list of top-notch artists, including Alex Cuba, Fred Eaglesmith and NoMeansNo.

“We’ve had some really great shows,” he says. “When you’re getting that calibre of talent plus having the local musicians want to play here it speaks volumes that we’re hopefully doing something right.”

He’s not the only one that thinks so.

“We’ve played as far as Singapore, but honestly I think the Park is one of our favourites,” says James Taronno, keyboardist in local band Quinzy. “Erick knows how to treat a band and he knows how to run a business and he takes it seriously.”

Perhaps the most important thing is Casselman’s long-term philosophy.

“You don’t do this because you plan to become rich. You do this because you have a passion for it. I do this because I want to create a legacy,” Casselman says.

“It’s one of the reasons that the Park is doing so well,” Taronno says. “This isn’t just a way to get some extra people in to get really drunk, this is a venue to listen to music.”

When asked about plans going forward, Casselman seems intent on expanding his venue’s potential.

“We have to make sure that acts want to come back through here. The biggest problem we run into is that we get to work with wonderful acts, but as they develop and their audience grows, they start to outgrow the room and then we lose them to the bigger venues.”

Meanwhile, two nights of star-studded entertainment have been planned to celebrate six years in business.

Among other local heroes, Quinzy will use the opportunity to get back on the stage after an extended hiatus spent writing and recording.

“We’re revealing a lot of new material,” Taronno says of the show. “We’re going to talk about Quinzmas (the band’s annual Christmas show, which was held at the Park in 2009) which we’re really excited about.

“We’re really looking forward to finally getting out there again and tearing up the Park.”

Visit www.parktheatrevideo.com

Published in Volume 66, Number 2 of The Uniter (September 8, 2011)