A sleepy prairie town isn't where you'd usually head for dinner and a show, but if you drive east from Calgary to the town of Rosebud, that’s exactly what you'll find.

The Rosebud Theatre and School of the Arts is a little artistic haven in the middle of the hoodoos, a place where post-secondary students come from all over to learn the ins and outs of stage production and performance, and audiences come from all over to see them at work.

Each year the theatre mounts several different shows, with performances by professionals and upper year students from the post-secondary theatre school. Shows run for weeks at a time, so check the website (www.rosebudtheatre.com) for what's on when you're in town.

Make sure you leave room for dinner – there's a buffet at the Rosebud Theatre's Mercantile Dining Room, and it's included in the price of the show.

You'll also find "stay & play" packages from various bed-and-breakfasts or hotels in Rosebud and Drumheller. They're a great way to squeeze in some golf or explore Dinosaur Country while you're in the area.

Rosebud is 100 km east of Calgary and 35 km west of Drumheller.