Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor

The beginnings of community theater in the U.S. are not well recorded.

Even the name "community theater" took some time to evolve. The movement has been called "art theater," "local theater," "amateur theater," even "tributary theater." The term "community theater" was coined by Louise Burleigh in 1917.

Two important ideas emerge when examining community theater roots. The first has to do with the importance of the field of community theater.

Community theater occupies an important position in the American theater picture. In smaller cities and localities not served by professional or educational theater, it offers the only opportunity to see live drama.

The second important idea is this incredible

opportunity to impact our communities brings a responsibility with it. I have taken this on personally and I will address my involvement further on.

A little history first.

In 1980, an organization called Olympic Theatre Arts was formed as a nonprofit organization, and it would become a vital part of the arts community of Clallam County. This group started out in the Howard Wood Memorial Theater - up a rather lopsided set of steep stairs above what is now Jim Carl Insurance and Doodlebugs on Washington Street (directly across from the Sequim Gazette).

Here it resided for many seasons until, in 2001, members and supporters bought the old Boys & Girls Club (former Methodist Church) on Sequim Avenue for $250,000. In 2003, they moved into the new venue with a conditional use permit.

With it began a comprehensive $1.3 million fundraising campaign.

Over the course of the next six years, there have been many causes for celebration as monies were raised and progress was made. And yes, some setbacks, too. However, local funds and grants have been added up to nearly 80 percent of all needed funding being raised thus far.

In fact, one of the grants received in 2008 was in the amount of $98,000 through the efforts of Congressman Norm Dicks. Another encouraging moment came shortly after, when the city eased restrictions it had placed in 2007.

For me, all this added up to one thing: It was time to get this done!

This past April 15, in order to help boost the effort to

raise the final 20 percent, I allowed OTA to announce my name as the lead donor, recognizing major contributions I made in the years 2003, 2004 and 2005. Until that time, my preference had been to remain anonymous.

It needs to be said that, although I am not necessarily a theater person, I am a strong community-minded person and have a keen awareness that a finished OTA Center would be an important cornerstone in a whole, well-

balanced community.

This particular week marks the halfway point on a 100-day - $100K Matching Gift Campaign. Through the generosity of another Sequim resident, every dollar contributed actually will double in value. The 100-day campaign runs through July 31.

And even beyond this, there is just over $200,000 yet to be raised.

Many people in the Sequim area still are looking to give back to their community. The hardest part of any capital campaign is getting it up and running and raising the first 20 percent. It's never about raising the last 20 percent. Frankly, the difficult part is done.

Let's join in as a community and open this new, unique, artistic and cultural community resource for Sequim and the Dungeness Valley. As a business person and a longtime community member, I started this effort long ago to see it all the way through to the finish.

If you have any questions or concerns, or even if you want to talk about the project, give me a call. I'm willing to personally answer anyone's questions. At the same time, I also will be accountable to see all donated funds result in this project being completed.

You can e-mail me at maloney@olypen.com or call me at the Sequim Gazette at 683-3311.

With a little more community commitment, we could be having plays in the new theater by the end of the year.

What do you say? Can you help?



Brown M. Maloney is the owner of Olympic View Publishing, which publishes the Sequim Gazette.