Stages for Students

For World Theatre Day 2025 (March 27), Summerside’s Harbourfront Theatre launched a brand-new program, Stages for Students, in memory of their founding volunteer Marcia Whelan, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 84. This groundbreaking initiative will reimagine how young people access and engage with theatre. As such, it aims to develop and nurture a new generation of performing arts enthusiasts, audiences, and theatre makers.

Thanks to a generous donation of $25,000 from Marcia Whelan’s sons, Bill and Scott, in her memory, Harbourfront Theatre has been able to launch this program, which will facilitate attendance by providing free theatre tickets to schoolchildren. It will also enable local schools to stage their own productions on Harbourfront’s stage.

Marcia Whelan was a passionate advocate for the arts and a dedicated educator. From 1997 to 2018, her unwavering commitment to Harbourfront Theatre’s volunteer program helped grow the group into a thriving membership that today surpasses 130 volunteers. Dozens of our long-serving members were recruited and trained personally by Marcia. She also volunteered hundreds of hours at Harbourfront events, particularly enjoying productions with a young audience element—whether programming for local schools to attend or those productions the schools themselves staged for families and the community. In these ways, Marcia contributed indelibly to Harbourfront Theatre’s growth, development, and ongoing significance in Summerside and Prince County. The fund will celebrate her life and contributions while continuing to make the arts accessible to young audiences—a cause she truly valued.

Benefactors Bill and Scott Whelan says, “The Stages for Students program is such a fitting way to honour Mom and her passion for education and the performing arts. She loved to entertain, make people smile, and she was at times hilarious. She also loved being part of the Harbourfront Theatre community. We are so pleased to be able to provide this gift in Mom’s memory.”

Mary Dennis, Harbourfront Theatre’s Executive Director, says, “By fostering accessibility to theatre and nurturing a love of the performing arts in local schoolchildren, Harbourfront Theatre’s Stages for Students will ensure Marcia Whelan’s legacy continues to inspire future generations—creating a vibrant connection between the arts and education in our community, in a way that Marcia would have cherished. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Bill and Scott Whelan for the incredible gift in Marcia’s memory.”

To find out more about Stages for Students and sign up for email updates, visit harbourfronttheatre.com/stagesforstudents