Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre Could Lose Home of More Than Twenty Years; News Saddens Local Art Lover

Before he retired, my father had a day job, but photography was always his passion. 

He had a darkroom when people still used film and he studied and practiced and took classes to learn everything he could about taking pictures.  He taught me to appreciate art. 

I spent much of my childhood in New York in a small town and on weekends we went into New York City to the theater, to museums and to galleries.  When my family moved to California, we continued this tradition. 

My father lives in Los Angeles now and we still do all of these things when we are together. My greatest memories are not about any particular show or great work of art.  Much of it was terrible, at least in our eyes. 

I will always remember him telling me that it isn’t important to like everything you see, but it is important to be exposed to it. 

This is why I continue to visit galleries, museums and attend the theater, now with my own children. I don’t always like everything I see, but I can always find something interesting or inspiring in it and I can admire great talent even if the medium is not my favorite. 

Recently Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre (TVRT) issued a letter to the press explaining that they are in financial trouble.  Ticket sales continue to be very low, their landlord is raising the rent to their office and rehearsal space and general expenses continue to rise on set and costume rentals, theater fees, etc. 

Most people are probably aware that the space used for their offices and the Studio Theatre cannot be used for dance rehearsals because there is no dance floor.  TVRT has to rent additional space for dance rehearsals at an additional cost. 

Theater companies all over the country are in financial trouble and many of them are closing. 

I’m sure your email is filled with organizations asking for donations, but I hope that you will consider making a donation of any size to TVRT. 

Very large donations would be wonderful, but even $5, $10 or $25 will make a difference. 

If 500 people all gave $100, they would reach their goal of raising $50,000. 

The money would give them time to find a new office and rehearsal location if necessary or install a new floor for dancing so they wouldn’t have to rent a second space.  If you are in the business of installing floors or know someone who is and might be in a position to help, please call their office – 925-462-2121.

TVRT’s situation is very personal to me. 

My son has been lucky enough to be cast in several of their shows over the years, but outside of that, the staff and actors I have met as a volunteer have become part of my family. 

I’m sure everyone reading this either knows an actor who has worked with them, knows a child who has attended one of their acting camps, is a volunteer or a patron. 

TVRT is part of the greater Tri-Valley family and we all need to get together and help.  “It takes a village…” remember? 

Aside from giving TVRT cash, you can help by purchasing tickets to their next show (Hairspray – opening at the Bankhead on October 22), volunteering to post flyers, help backstage during the show, make a donation that can be matched by your company or even contact your company to see if they are able to provide a grant.

TVRT has been providing quality theatre in the Tri-Valley area for more than 27 years.  Please do what you can to make sure you and your children can continue to experience the joy of live musical theatre in your own backyard.

As I promised in my last post, here are a few tips to get some free or reduced cost tickets to local events:  1) “Like” TVRT on Facebook.  There is a special half price ticket offer for Hairspray tickets available NOW, 2) Sign up for an account on www.goldstar.com.  It doesn’t cost anything and you will be able to take advantage of reduced cost, half price and even free tickets to local events like Giants, A’s and 49er games, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Disney on Ice, musicals, comedy shows and more, 3) www.travelzoo.com.  This site is very similar to Goldstar, but also includes hotels, air travel and cruises.  And finally, a really little known secret, 4) the Alameda County Library website. 

Yes, you heard me correctly.  Go to http://www.aclibrary.org/ and click on the main logo at the top left.  In the middle of the page that comes up, click on another logo that says, “Discover & Go”.  You must be an Alameda County resident and have a library card to use this service, but you will find FREE admission to the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39, FREE admission to the Oakland Museum, FREE admission to the Exploratorium and many other free or reduced price offers.  I have not used this yet, so if anyone reading this has, please send me some feedback.

Walt Stanchfield, an animator who worked for the great Walt Disney on such classics as Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book and Who Framed Roger Rabbit taught people how to develop their own creativity, “…Take a different route to work every day…eat at different restaurants…shop at different stores… watch television programs you never would normally watch. “  Follow “the other Walt’s” advice and go see something new at the theater. 

Try out one of the free or reduced price attractions I suggested and take what you would have spent on them and donate it to TVRT.  Go to the theatre for the first time or take someone to the theater that has never seen a live show.  These moments are really magical and quite possibly life-changing.  And then, go to www.trivalleyrep.org and click on the “Help Out” button to make a donation.