SaskExpress Theatre

Saskatchewan Express was founded in 1980 by Carol Gay Bell who is the current General Manager/Artistic Director of the group. It was the outcome of a successful touring show of Saskatchewan performers held in 1967 to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday. Because of the enthusiastic response, the Government of Saskatchewan initiated the Saskatchewan Talent Hunt in the performing arts in 1974. The program sought out talented performers from throughout the province with the goal of combining them in a touring show. It was in 1980 that a touring show was finally achieved as a program of the Diamond Jubilee Corporation. To help Celebrate Saskatchewan on the occasion of her 75th anniversary, a touring group was put together and called Saskatchewan's Greatest Little Travelling Birthday Party. In 1983, Saskatchewan Lotteries became a supporter and the group was named Saskatchewan Express. Saskatchewan Express remained a government program, supported by government and Saskatchewan Lotteries until 1994 when it became a non-profit cultural organization with a board of directors. Saskatchewan Express was granted charitable status in 1998. Saskatchewan Express is supported primarily by Saskatchewan Arts Board and SaskCulture through the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund. The organization raises 70 per cent of its budget through performance fees, sponsorship, grants, members and donors, and fundraising events. Our performers come from all parts of Saskatchewan from the smallest communities to major centers. Many former Saskatchewan Express performers have gone on to professional careers in entertainment around the world, including Broadway, cruise ships, touring shows and stage productions the world over, as well as appearances in film, television and recordings. Saskatchewan Express is proud to be a musical ambassador for this province and has appeared across Saskatchewan and from coast to coast in Canada as well as in the United States. Firmly believing in the education of young people in the performing arts, Saskatchewan Express established Musical Theatre Studios in Regina in 1997 and in Saskatoon in 2000. These studios train young people from the ages of 3 to 19. 2016 marked the 36th anniversary of Saskatchewan Express in providing training and opportunities to talented Saskatchewan performers and delivering first-class family entertainment to the people of this province no matter where they live.