Roselawn Centre for the Living Arts
296 Fielden Ave.
Port Colborne ON
L3K 5X7
Tel: (905) 834-7572
Web site: www.roselawn.ca
featuring Showboat Festival Theatre
Tel: (905) 834-0833 (Box Office)
Toll Free: 1-888-870-8181
Fax: (905) 834-4335
Steeped in history, dating back to 1860, the historic three-storey Roselawn
mansion has expanded and evolved into a facility that is now home to a variety
of creative endeavors for Niagara residents and visitors alike, not the least
of which is Showboat Festival Theatre. And although Showboat's summer season
of theatre-in-the-round is arguably the most notable fixture, Roselawn also
hosts the ever-popular Canadian Authors Series, The Jazz Series, and the more
recently added Food & Wine Series in the magnificent Heritage Dining Rooms
as well as Art and Photography Exhibits and juried shows. Roselawn, however,
is much more than a facility offering entertainment and good food. In partnership
with the South Niagara Community Futures Development Corporation, it provides
comprehensive business opportunities with its low-tech and high-tech conference
and presentation rooms, along with a computer lab for training sessions.
SHOWBOAT FESTIVAL THEATRE: Showboat Festival Theatre is a professional
theatre company entering its 17th summer season in 2003. Five assorted productions
are held between June 18 and August 31. The intimate 220-seat theatre-in-the-round
adjoins the aesthetically beautiful 19th century mansion and heritage dining
rooms, but patrons in wheelchairs cannot get from the theatre to the mansion
without going back outside to a different entrance.
Although the Roselawn complex faces onto Fielden Avenue, it comprises the spacious
treed grounds at the corner of Fielden and Carter Street with the parking lot
and theatre entrance located on Carter Street.
The parking lot has a gravel surface so there are no actual spaces outlined.
However, there are three designated handicapped parking signs directly in front
of the box office entrance and two more at a 90-degree angle to the right, which
is by the ramp leading to the adjoining heritage mansion and dining rooms. There
is no accessibility for people in wheelchairs or on
scooters from the theatre level to the dining rooms once inside the complex
as there are stairs to navigate. Unfortunately, management has been unable to
secure funding to install an elevator.
From the parking lot there is a cement ramp with a 1/2" lip to the box
office entrance. The door opens outward with an easy-to-grab long handle, but
the door is quite heavy. If you already have your theatre tickets or are with
someone who can purchase them for you, then you can bypass the box office and
use the automatic theatre entrance door from the parking lot,
then turn to your left and a long ramp will take you to the theatre. (See next
paragraph.)
Entrance and Box office: Once inside the box office entrance you are
in large lounge-style foyer with the box office counter to your right. The counter
is 46" high. To get to the theatre from the box office there is a 33"
wide door with a lever handle 40" high. This door opens toward you. On
the other side of the door, immediately to your left is a long ramp with a tiled
floor and a downward slope. This ramp is 35' long and 42" wide with full-length
bars 33" high on either side. At the bottom of this ramp there is a turnaround
71" x 91" leading to another similar sloped ramp with a left turn
at the end leading to another door. This door is 36" wide with a lever
handle that opens out toward you.
This opens to a small, carpeted foyer area with another door straight ahead
leading into the theatre. That door is 33" wide and opens toward you with
a long pull-type bar handle.
Family style washroom: Also, from that small, carpeted area there is
another door to the right, 33" wide that opens out away from you with a
long horizontal push bar. This leads to a lower level hallway and a large accessible
family style washroom, as well as the off-limits backstage and dressing room
area. The door to the washroom is 35" wide with a lever handle 40"
high. The dimensions of the washroom are huge at 110" x 88". There
is a 30" grab bar to the right of the toilet (left if seated) and a 24"
grab bar at back of toilet. The 31" high open sink has lever style taps
and all amenities are within reach. However, the hook on the back of the door
is too high at 62".
Main washroom: Just down the 58" wide hall from the main box office foyer is a large accessible washroom. The 36" wide door into the washroom opens inward with a round twist handle. The accessible stall is very roomy at 92" x 58". The door opens out with an easy bar-type handle. The door locks with a bar turn. However, there are no grab bars but there is a low coat/handbag hook. Toilet tissue is easily reached. There is a two-sink vanity and a separate open sink for people in wheelchairs. This accessible sink is 30" high with a low mirror and soap dispenser 33" high. The paper towel dispenser is 44" high.
THE MANSION: The only way for patrons in wheelchairs to access the mansion
and Heritage Dining Rooms is from the parking lot and up a 48" wide wooden
ramp, which rises to a height of approximately 40" (snow accumulation made
it difficult
to get an accurate measurement). There is a 90-degree left turn leading to the
entrance door. The sides of the ramp are not enclosed and have just a wooden
bar. The door into the building is on the left and has a cement step with a
½" high lip on the outside and a 1" lip down onto the hardwood
flooring of the sunroom which may be difficult to manoeuvre. We're told that
patrons in wheelchairs with an assistant do indeed use this entrance, but it
probably wouldn't be feasible for a person on a scooter. Because this entrance
is not normally used by able-bodied persons, it might be advisable to phone
ahead if you are just attending for lunch to make sure it is unlocked.
This small sunroom leads you into a living room style lounge with 58" wide
French doors. A focal feature is the fireplace. The elegantly furnished lounge
has hardwood flooring with an area rug, sofa, two wing chairs and a coffee table.
On your right is another doorway 60" wide with French doors leading into
the classic Double Parlour dining room with tables for two or
four and hardwood flooring throughout.
If you go straight through the lounge instead of turning into the dining room
you will go through a 31" wide door which has a metal strip with a ¼"
lip leading to yet another lounge area - this one has what is called the VQA
Wine Bar but serves more than just wine. This area is fully carpeted and features
beautifully upholstered wing and armchairs -- a lovely ambiance to
sit and enjoy a drink.
From the bar/lounge you will manoeuvre through a 32" opening with an immediate
turn to the left and through a 33" opening that leads to a carpeted up
ramp. At the top of the ramp you have two options: a) you can make a right turn
and go through a 32" door that opens toward you with a pull-type bar handle
(usually kept propped open), down a short 46" wide
hallway where you overlook the bar-lounge area that you just left. This leads
you through another 30"wide doorway with the door opening away from you
with a round knob handle (again, usually kept propped open), and into the large
President's Room dining area where wall-to-wall windows give you a beautiful
vista overlooking the garden and treed surroundings.
Remember the two options you had on leaving the bar/lounge? Here is the other
option: b) at the top of the ramp you can go straight ahead down to the end
of the wide hall, (past washrooms which are not accessible) make a right turn,
down another wide hallway which opens up into another large room with what is
known as the backstage bar and to your right double doors into the President's
Room. This large backstage bar room has walls adorned with photographs of the
Showboat Festival Theatre Company and Roselawn's famous Canadian Authors' Series
Readings At The Roselawn, which runs from September to May and has featured
such luminaries as Margaret Atwood, Pamela Wallin, Peter Mansbridge, Lloyd Robertson,
Pierre Berton, Mike Bullard and the late Mordecai Richler, to name a few. That
series is always sold out at 300 subscribers for each evening, and has more
than 100 persons on the waiting list.
From the President's Room a 35" wide door with horizontal push bar opens
outside to a full-length deck, but it would be difficult to access owing to
a 1" cement lip up from the dining room and a 2" lip on the outside
down onto the deck.
HERITAGE DINING ROOMS: The Heritage Dining Rooms are open for lunch
and dinner Tuesday to Friday
from November to April. Beginning in May you may dine from Tuesday to Sunday.
Reservations are recommended, especially during special functions and the Showboat
Festival Theatre season where many patrons take advantage
of the special lunch and dinner packages. For reservations, call (905) 834-7572.
JAZZ SERIES: The Jazz Series runs monthly from September to February
and kicks off with a dinner dance featuring the Toronto All Star Big Band, which
is not included in the series subscription. You can also purchase single performance
tickets. The 2003/2004 lineup includes Guido Basso Quintet, Dee Daniels, Rob
McConnell Trio, Reg Schwager & Kiki Misumi, Jim Galloway, and Stacey Kent,
all subject to confirmation. Performances are held in the theatre.
FOOD & WINE SERIES: Running from October to May, this series features a different Niagara winery each month showcasing their products with a gourmet five-course meal and each course accompanied with an exquisitely paired wine. Appetizers are served in the VQA Wine Bar with dinner served in the President's Room.
Roselawn also provides a picturesque setting for such events as anniversaries,
garden parties, showers or weddings. The mansion can seat 100 + guests and can
provide everything from chair covers and linens to live
entertainment.
For more information call the above phone numbers or log onto the Web site.
Reviewed Feb. 2003