Like an old Andy Hardy movie, the Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild has rallied volunteers, identified experts and infrastructure materials and received substantial assistance from the city.
Now the non-profit group is beginning what leaders hope, is the final fund-raising push to get the theater’s stage lights up by fall.
“We need to get the doors open,” said Trish Melehan, the organization’s secretary and Scotts Valley art commissioner. “Now it’s time for people to give money.”
The guild is readying an extensive fundraising blitz during the coming weeks to raise $250,000 through donations and grants.
It currently has about $40,000 from previous donations. The city has pledged $125,000 toward the project.
The guild is also searching for corporate grants to provide a big boost toward its goal.
The burgeoning theater will serve as home for the performers of Scotts Valley Performing Arts, who previously staged shows at the former Bethany College, which now is being transformed into the 1440 Multiversity.
Local theater companies, groups, and professionals will be able to lease the space from the guild.
School groups, regional and national performance groups, private recitals and performances, individuals, and business meetings will also use the 230-seat theater.
The theater has been scaled down from a state-of-the-arts $4 million dream, and is now described as “minimalist.” For example, a sunken orchestra pit will come later, Melehan said.
The 1440 Multiversity has donated $800,000 worth of interior necessities from the demolished Bethany theater. Items include lights, wires, control boards, seats, sound systems and microphones.
The lengthy building-permit process with the city appears to be nearing its end.
“We’re in the final mile,” Lee Besse, guild president. “It could likely happen any day, but January is realistic.”
The project is being designed by local architect Leif Rideout, who is donating his time.
Originally, guild organizers assumed they could use much of the existing interior infrastructure, but that proved to be wrong.
“There’s almost nothing in there that we can use,” said Besse, adding that the old roller rink/sports center did not have ADA-approved facilities.
Besse said that every time they have a setback, another expert steps up to lend a hand, just like an Andy Hardy movie.
