After opening nite our our new theatre building, we continued to produce about 4-5 shows a season. We procured good directors and even better actors. Our patron paying base of regular givers kept rising. We sold out nearly every production. Our volunteer Board of Directors and volunteer players, director and technical folk worked often round the clock to keep the theatre a success. It was a good 10 years. It was time to grow again...and we began increasing our schedule. We added childrens shows and musicals. Again, we sold out. The involvement of children garnered nearly a 100 auditioners for one musical. The need was evident and we met it. Our childrens shows would sell out before they opened.
It was an exciting and prosperous time.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
debt here we come!
Up until this point in our short history, we had no debt. We managed financially play to play, existing and maintaining just on ticket income and a handful of annual paying patrons. We had a couple of businesses that came on board and kicked in more than their share. But our coffers were small.
It was at this point, with not a "pot", we came across an old warehouse in the "Heart of Danville" and thought it might just be the perfect spot for our new home. We met, we discussed, we agonized over borrowing the money to get us started. One of the local banks believed in us, we had some friends that were builders and architects and our dream came into focus.
We had a major fund raising campaign and raised enough to make us feel it might be possible. And it was. We built, with the help of hundreds of local committed folk, a beautiful, State approved - 125 seat theatre! It was replete with restrooms, dressing rooms, a small green room, a workshop, a lobby area, a technical booth, and a very expensive sprinkler system!
While we were still waiting for paint to dry we opened "Inherit the Wind" in our new building! It was an exhilirating, satisfying and incredible night as George McClure and Dorothy Belle Hill ceremoniously cut the yellow ribbon across the stage on opening nite!
Ah...we were more than on our way!
It was at this point, with not a "pot", we came across an old warehouse in the "Heart of Danville" and thought it might just be the perfect spot for our new home. We met, we discussed, we agonized over borrowing the money to get us started. One of the local banks believed in us, we had some friends that were builders and architects and our dream came into focus.
We had a major fund raising campaign and raised enough to make us feel it might be possible. And it was. We built, with the help of hundreds of local committed folk, a beautiful, State approved - 125 seat theatre! It was replete with restrooms, dressing rooms, a small green room, a workshop, a lobby area, a technical booth, and a very expensive sprinkler system!
While we were still waiting for paint to dry we opened "Inherit the Wind" in our new building! It was an exhilirating, satisfying and incredible night as George McClure and Dorothy Belle Hill ceremoniously cut the yellow ribbon across the stage on opening nite!
Ah...we were more than on our way!
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