Being an Advisor
Before becoming an advisor, you have to have earned experience - the good and the bad. Hey, you've got to have a dream, right? Go advise for the dreamers. I have.
When advising, ultimately, I offered my insight and whomever I advised chose to take it or leave it on the table. I don't take offence if, upon listening to my voice of experience, they choose a different avenue. After all, they need to earn experience too, and it could very well be that they made the right choice for the time and place that were at. My goal was to encourage and help them skip a stumbling block or two. And, if they fell, my job was to help them get back on track.
It was always important to remember that I wasn't competing with other advisors. An organization should be listening with both ears to a variety of ideas and suggestions. Mine, was only one voice.
Building a Community Theatre Program
Starting with a Vision
It all starts with a vision. That was the case with the Eagle Theatre Company in Eagle, Idaho. I had a dream and when I met up with two other visionaries the dream took flight. This is a story of trial and error, pain and progress, and finally turning over the program. We began the project just as the Covid pandemic began. It took a lot of patience blended with pure energy and willpower to build this without gathering together. Eventually a board was formed, ideas solidified, and a good concept grew into a non-profit organization called the Eagle Theatre Company. I stepped off the board and now they are trying to build a community of players and financial supporters.
For additional information in news articles. Click here and here.
Embrace the Vision of Others
There are times that a fledgling organization needs to have the eyes of an outsider to take a fresh approach or to reach a higher potential. It doesn't mean that the advice you offer will be taken, but sometimes, just talking about options out loud help to cultivate new and brilliant ideas! Such was the case with a church that wanted to build an arts program to reach out to the community. I met with the director and brainstormed. Following that conversation, the director formed a team of hard-working dreamers, and they began with simple events like karaoke nights, sing-alongs and art opportunities. They are now producing their first theatrical production. Imagine (imaginepnw.org) is a ministry of Northlake Lutheran Church.
From Baby Steps to Broadway Shows
You gotta have a dream. You have to start somewhere. In one instance, it took a few years to grow a drama ministry program that performed sermon starters for worship. Then with the infusion of fresh eyes, that program grew to produce musical dinner theater events that drew in the community. Then once again, with the infusion of new talent building on the dreams and visions of the old, the program grew to host an entire season of arts events for adults and children including producing major theatrical productions with live orchestras. That program was in residence at a church in Bellevue, Washington and was known as the Newport Season of the Arts. It was wildly successful, and the theatrical productions filled the house of 450 seats during multiple-week runs.
Not every dream is meant to last. In this instance, the community theatre program was forced to fold but it was a fabulous ride for many years, and it was influential for the many people who participated and for those who attended.
Volunteering in the Schools
Children and youth have dreams that need to be encouraged. In the past I have organized and directed variety shows, directed classroom productions, led workshops, been a guest lecturer, planned with and advised Parent Teacher Associations to raise funds and introduce drama programs into the schools, and have been a sounding board for drama teachers. No one has bigger and shinier dreams than our youth!
Serving a City
Being an Art Commissioner
It was in 2018 that I was commissioned by the mayor of the City of Eagle, Idaho. For four years I served in the capacity of an Arts Commissioner. During that time I participated in advising the city on how the monies that were budgeted to encourage the arts were to be utilized. During my tenure, a survey was taken of the residents and there was interest in the visual arts and the performing arts. We introduced a variety of art shows, gallery events, the construction of public art, and the painting of murals, along with activities that supported and encouraged the performing arts in the city.
The plaque I received thanking me for my service.