Upcoming events
The movie Good Fortune is a comedy about a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist who swap lives due to the intervention of an inept angel. ( Dark Night - Nov 21 One Act Play Festival)
Come celebrate Moonlight Madness this magical season at the Empress Theatre with a night of painting and crafts with local artist Dani and create those warm, christmas fuzzy vibes in your own home. On this special night there are two activities offered: 1. Wintery Painting 9x12 canvas, $40 per artist - adults only. 2. Artsy Elves Table $10 per artist Come & Go Table (No Registration REGISTER FOR PAINTING HERE
Everyone knows that, each Christmas, Santa Claus delivers presents to every last child on Earth. What everyone doesn't know is that Santa accomplishes the feat with a very high-tech operation beneath the North Pole. But when the unthinkable happens, and Santa misses one child out of hundreds of millions, someone has to save the day. It's up to Arthur (James McAvoy), Santa's youngest son, to deliver a present to the forgotten tyke before Christmas morning dawns.
The Herdmans are six siblings who have a reputation for being the worst kids in the world. However, when they take over the local church pageant during the holidays, they just might teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas.
One Battle After Another follows Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a former revolutionary living in hiding with his daughter, Willa. Their lives are upended when his nemesis, Colonel Lockjaw (Sean Penn), resurfaces to hunt them, forcing Bob to confront his past to protect his daughter. The story involves Bob seeking help from his old group of revolutionaries to find Willa after she goes missing.
The long running and celebrated McDade Family Christmas show is finally coming to the Empress Theatre. Alberta’s first family of Celtic music invite you to join them in celebration. Bringing you a Celtic Christmas, The McDades offer you and yours their heartfelt comfort and joy of the season. The McDade Family’s rich blend of soaring vocal harmonies, acoustic instrumentation and energetic fiddle tunes will leave you with the feeling that Christmas is here. Spend an evening enjoying a holiday tradition while listening to seasonal classics as well as some rare gems. Join us for great music and good cheer! . BUY TICKETS
Christmas in Fort Macleod is a magical time of year filled with festive things to see and do, from enchanting light trails and festive shows to winter markets and Christmas festivities all over town. December 12th, come sing along to the best Christmas songs and popular Christmas carols in Fort Macleod at the Empress Theatre for a traditional carol celebration this festive season. Hear Christmas carols performed by live choirs from right here in our community. Whether you’re a regular in church or only step into one occasionally to admire the architecture, we can all agree that hearing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ or ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ during Yuletide just hits different. Christmas isn’t Christmas without carol concerts. In between all the of the chaos and hubbub of the festive season, from gift shopping to light displays, festivals and big events, this carol celebration offers a welcome moment of respite and reflection. Admission is Free.
Step into the wonder of the first Christmas with our community production, A Night in the Stable. This beautiful live nativity experience brings together music, storytelling, and heartfelt performances from local children and families. Admission is free, but seating is limited. To ensure your spot, please reserve in advance. We can’t wait to share this special evening with you and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas together.
A real Christmas classic, Miracle of 34th Street opens with one of New York’s most prolific department stores on the brink of collapse, with their only hope of survival being their upcoming Christmas season. When the Santa they’ve hired quits at the last minute, they’re left with a kind bearded gentleman who is convinced he’s the real deal and will the day. However, when he is arrested, the fate of Christmas falls into the hands of six-year-old Susan who must restore the world’s belief in Santa Claus. Tickets are Free (Donations Welcomed)
PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - Women-led Flamenco Mediterranean Fusion. Tamar Ilana & Ventanas is a 6-piece global music and flamenco band based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2011 by "powerhouse vocalist" (Downbeat Magazine) and Jewish-Indigenous artist Tamar Ilana, they've received 4 CFMA nominations, and toured across Canada, the US, Colombia, Portugal, Ireland and Spain. They released their 4th album, AZADI, in 2024: original compositions that reflect on life’s freedoms with strong influences from their unique combination of cultural and musical backgrounds including Flamenco, Sephardic, Balkan, Greek, Turkish, Jazz, Pop, Classical and Mediterranean folk. BUY TICKETS
PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - Lennie Gallant is an acclaimed East Coast songwriter with sixteen albums of original material to his name and a long list of awards recognizing his work. His iconic song Peter’s Dream was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and his songwriting has reached audiences around the world—quite literally. One of his albums even accompanied astronauts aboard the International Space Station, orbiting Earth 248 times. Over the years, he has shared the stage with symphony orchestras and performed alongside numerous well-known artists, including the late Jimmy Buffett. BUY TICKETS
She’s authentic. She’s a songstress. She’s a cowgirl. And she is the best kept secret of the west. As last year’s winner of the coveted Rising Star Search at Canada’s most storied country club - Ranchman’s - Morgan’s talented has been on full display with a steady stream of high impact performances across the west including two memorable shows at Country Thunder Alberta, and The Big Valley Jamboree. With sharp wit, a dazzling smile, genuine cowgirl cred, and a voice that can belt out anything from Led Zeppelin to Dolly Parton, it’s no wonder Morgan’s brand has been so appealing to her ever-growing fan base. Her latest album Hardgrass Country was just voted Album of the Year at the 2025 Country Music Alberta Awards! BUY TICKETS
Valdy, is a Canadian folk and country music legend who has toured for forty-six years. HIs solo career began in the early 1970s. He is most known for "Rock and Roll Song", his first mainstream single but Valdy has a treasure trove of songs and stories. He is the winner of two JUNO awards including Folksinger of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year. His fourteen albums, including four which are certified gold, have achieved sales of nearly half a million copies. BUY TICKETS
PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - Eighteen years ago a number of Ian Tyson's one time sidemen, collaborators and musical admirers came together under the banner of The Gift - Words and Music of Ian Tyson. The Gift rolls through 50 years of Tyson's catalogue, finding room for songs going back to the days of Ian and Sylvia and The Great Speckled Bird, through Ian's honky-tonk years, while making room for a large slice of the cowboy culture music that is heard on albums from Old Corrals and Sagebrush, Cowboyography, 18 Inches of Rain, I Outgrew The Saddle and Songs From The Gravel Road. BUY TICKETS
Called one of Canada’s Top 5 Female Jazz Singers and Top 35 under 35 Jazz Artists by CBC Radio 2, Lica’s deep passion for the music of classic American vocalists like Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and Betty Hutton led her to pursue a degree in Jazz Voice Performance at the University of Toronto. Barbra has received accolades for a unique stage approach that stresses subtlty, grace and storytelling, captivating audiences with her genuine warmth and confidence.
(18+ Only) A fictitious male stripper troupe (played by some of Canada’s best improv comedians) perform sexylarious comedy. Semi undressed and completely unscripted, they take off their shirts and take on your suggestions to create a whole new genre of comedy. They try to be sexy… it just comes out funny. They sing, they “dance”, and they are ready to make you laugh. A SHOW FOR ALL GENDERS… (Adults Only) WARNING! No extreme nudity, just extreme hilarity.
Since emigrating to Canada in 2002, Chris Ronald has been recognized as a highly skilled singer, storyteller and musician. His fusion of folk, roots, and Americana music are steeped in his British background and poetic lyrics. One of these early works caught the attention of The Georgia Straight who praised Ronald’s songwriting and “beautifully clear tenor voice” and wondered “where his obvious talent has been hiding for so long.” His sophomore album Timeline catapulted Ronald to a new level in his career with, among other accolades, a nomination for “Songwriter of the Year” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Ronald was then signed to esteemed Canadian folk label Borealis Records to release Fragments followed by Light & Dark. Both albums achieved top 10 on the The Folk Chart. BUY TICKETS
PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - For nearly two decades, Delhi 2 Dublin has been at the forefront of South Asian fusion music, pioneering a global bass sound they call “Subcontinental Pop”—a high-energy blend of Bhangra, electronic, hip-hop, reggae, and Celtic influences that defies genre and unites dance floors worldwide. As they approach their monumental 20th anniversary in 2026, the band is re-energized, re-inspired, and ready to launch a bold new chapter, creating fresh music for the first time in six years. Founding members Sanjay Seran and Ravi Binning continue to lead the charge, pushing Delhi 2 Dublin’s sound and vision to new heights. BUY TICKETS
A salute to one Canada's most celebrated songwriters - Troubadour "The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot" with Duane Steele and a killer band, brings the timeless music and story of Gordon Lightfoot to life on our stage with amazing songs, multi-media images, and wonderful stories about Gordon's life and career. We guarantee you’ll leave the theatre humming Sundown, Carefree Highway, If You Could Read My Mind and a ton of other great Lightfoot hits. Amazing harmonies, rich storytelling, and a night that feels like coming home. BUY TICKETS
Back by popular demand, Ikons: the Kiss Experience will rock Fort Macleod’s Empress Theatre once again. This authentic concert experience is guaranteed to satisfy even the most diehard Kiss fans. Beginning in the 1970s, with chart-toppers including “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” and “Beth”, Kiss is known for its members’ face paint and stage outfits and its pyrotechnics. Come experience the Starchild, the Demon, the Spaceman, and the Catman. You just might think it’s the real deal once you see Ikons’ authentic looks, moves and music. BUY TICKETS
Step into a time machine and relive the magic of the swinging 60's with Calgary's premier Beatles tribute band! All You Need Is Love - A Tribute to The Fab Four offers an authentic homage to the greatest band of all time. They captivate audiences with the remarkable musical energy and the infectious wit and humor that cemented The Beatles as legendary icons. The performance begins in 1964 and continues until 1969. It will captivate you with the band's hit songs and the lively banter among the members and with the audience, which made their shows so delightful to watch. BUY TICKETS
All concerts are supported by Alberta Foundation for the Arts
EMPRESS THEATRE
FORT MACLEOD, ALBERTA
Since 1912 the Empress Theatre has provided a broad spectrum of high quality arts and cultural events to the people of rural Southern Alberta. The Empress is a not-for-profit registered charity that hosts live theatre, world-class music, cinema, summer theatre camps, film festivals, community musicals, weddings, private screenings, conventions, tours, meetings, conferences, symposia, workshops, lectures, debates, rehearsals, memorials, celebrations, benefit concerts, location shoots, live recordings, spiritual experiences, paranormal investigations, parties and more.
The theatre is currently designated an Alberta Historic Resource, is owned and maintained by the Town of Fort Macleod and is operated on their behalf by the Empress Theatre Society.
