Stand Out Talent Hopes to Call Tower Theatre Home

Jennifer Bortz hopes to set the stage to assist in Downtown Roseville’s revitalization.

As chief executive officer and creator of Stand Out Talent, a nonprofit that provides training and productions for the arts community, Bortz said she’s working on an agreement with the to bring life back into the historic Tower Theatre on Vernon Street through movie premiers, dinner and movie features and theater productions,

“This facility is perfect,” she said. “It’s absolutely perfect for our original vision.”

Tower Theatre, which is owned by the city, was one of Civic Theatre West’s venues for performances, in addition to Roseville Theatre. But when Civic Theatre West fell into debt and closed its doors in November, the city was left with the task of finding a new tenant.

Mark Wolinski, an administrative analyst with the city's redevelopment agency, said a committee was formed to review and interview possible tenants and at the July 6 city council meeting, the agreement between the city and Stand Out Theatre could be approved.

"We are the last company standing," Bortz said.

Wolinski said Stand Out Talent was one of four groups in the running.

“The committee felt that Stand Out Talent’s business plan, goals and objectives brought many positive and inventive ideas to the theater," Wolinski said. "Their interest in developing the Tower Theatre into an entertainment hub for the Downtown using a diverse schedule of programming was very appealing to the committee.”

Stand Out Talent is currently renting space at Tower Theatre for their rehearsals for their upcoming production of “Godspell.”

“We are trying to reach out as much as possible and help downtown grow,” Bortz said. “The city has expressed to us that they are looking to diversify the city. They really want to expand and broaden. We want to see Roseville grow.”

Critics of Stand Out Talent moving in worry that the city can’t accommodate two theaters on the same block, Bortz said.

“We do so many different things – we’re not just a theater company,” she said. “Our goal is to train theater participants – all ages. The goal is to get them out there, and at auditions get them to stand out.”

Bortz said with Tower Theatre’s amenities, Stand Out Talent hopes to offer film premiers, partner with local restaurants for dinner and a movie, work with high school audio visual departments for film contests and show independent films.

“We want to be able to host a huge amount of community events,” Bortz said. “That (Tower Theatre) would be our home.”