Aug 26, 2008 - 04:00 PM

By Jillian Follert

OSHAWA -- The Regent Theatre will celebrate its grand opening in October with a three-act Canadian lineup featuring five-time Juno winner David Usher, violinist Dr. Draw and Leahy, an award-winning family of folk musicians.

Theatre owner Glyn Laverick unveiled the details for the Oct. 25 gala Monday morning, along with four concerts booked for November -- Canadian Idol star Jaydee Bixby, blues rocker Colin James, acoustic guitar player Jesse Cook and the Irish sounds of the Celtic Tenors.

"We wanted to offer variety and also show the diversity of the space," Mr. Laverick said. "We've got country, blues, pop -- there's something for everyone."

The lineup comes on the heels of another good news announcement last week, when Mr. Laverick revealed the theatre will celebrate its grand opening more than two months ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline set out by the City.

He said the opening-night gala is shaping up to be a glamorous affair.

The plan is to close off Victoria Street in downtown Oshawa to make room for a red carpet and outdoor pavilions.

"This is something above and beyond the average gala," Mr. Laverick said. "It's something you would see rolling out of the Cannes Film Festival. We want people to go and say 'Wow.' "

Gala guests who buy a $99 ticket will be treated to the three-act show and a champagne reception in the revamped theatre's upstairs mezzanine.

Those who splurge for the $399 "Golden Ticket VIP Package" will get valet parking, a gourmet dinner and access to a special VIP-only performance. Golden ticket holders will also become members of the theatre's Beat the Box Office Club -- which offers priority seating selection for events before they go on sale to the public -- and receive a Regent Theatre sponsor plaque.

Mr. Laverick said other events are already in the works for later this winter and he said he is confident he will be able to meet the 100 acts per year minimum, set out in his contract with the City.

As the man behind the renovation of Toronto's Danforth Music Hall, he is leveraging the relationships he has built with agents and promoters, noting several of the acts planned for the Regent have performed at his Toronto venue.

"It's an education process," he said. "You have to show the agents that there are a lot of people here who want to go to shows, and just don't have an outlet, so they're going to other markets. I've had agents say to me that having something (in Oshawa) is long overdue, and that they can't believe someone hasn't done it sooner."

Mr. Laverick purchased the vacant Regent Theatre from the City last fall for $700,000, then received a $700,000 grant under the Central Business District Community Improvement Program.

Under the agreement with the City, he is expected to comply with strict timelines and performance targets, which include a Dec. 31, 2008, deadline to open the theatre, retaining the Regent Theatre name, hiring an experienced theatre director and staging a minimum of 100 events per year.

Work on the venue has been underway since March, with most major tasks -- like digging out the concrete floor to allow for sloped seating and stripping blue paint off the exterior brick -- are complete.

A sign recently went up outside the theatre advertising that hiring has started for all positions.

To order tickets to the gala or one of the upcoming concerts, call the Regent box office at 905-434-SHOW. For more information on the theatre, check out www.regenttheatre.ca, which was scheduled to go live on Monday, Aug. 25.