Rosebud Theatre captivates audiences in tiny Alberta hamlet

The Rosebud Theatres started as a summer camp in the 1970s. Since then, it has amassed praise from around the world, bringing the limelight to the tiny hamlet of 89 people.

It’s easy to drive by the hamlet of Rosebud, nestled in a cozy river valley winding through the Badlands.

The small community may not have a gas station or convenience store, but it holds one hidden treasure that makes it worth the visit for art lovers.

In 1973, LaVerne Erickson ventured into this little valley with a vision. He started a teen summer camp, eventually becoming a performing arts high school.

Erickson’s determination and passion for the arts transformed the community.

“The town was dying. There was nobody here,” said the executive director of Rosebud Theatre, Paul Muir. “I think he bought the Mercantile for a dollar.”

Erickson initiated a program in the 1970s, bussing students from Calgary to Rosebud. For many of these junior high students, it was their first time in the country, marking the beginning of Rosebud’s revival.

From the theatre school emerged the Rosebud Theatre, a larger stage inspired by Erickson’s love of storytelling. This theatre has become the lifeblood of the community. With 230 seats, when it’s sold out, the Rosebud Theatre triples the population of the small hamlet.

Janice Perry, a regular at the theatre, has made attending a show an annual tradition with her friends. They bike, camp and head to the theatre for the finale of their weekend trip.