The Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild recently began demolition of the interior of what’s left of Scotts Valley’s Roller Rink in preparation for a new performing arts center.
Two nonprofit organizations are working to make this project happen. The Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild is planning to build the center and was originally formed so that the theater group — called Scotts Valley Performing Arts — would have a place to perform, said Carolyn Dugger, vice president of the guild and board member for Scotts Valley Performing Arts.
“This project really is large, it runs around $3 million as far as creating a space that we really envision, but what we decided to do is start the project like a diamond in the rough so that it’s not going to cost us as much money to build it,” Dugger said. “We want to get people in there performing and we will fundraise at the same time — and as we gain funds, what we will do is invest it back into the property.”
The desire for the theater came after Bethany University closed its doors and left the Scotts Valley Performing Arts group without a place to perform.
“We are a community theater company,” said Ray Gorski, treasurer of SVPA and crew chief for the demolition, “one of the great challenges of doing community theater or community productions is that the venues charge ridiculous amounts of money for you to rent the space.”
Two weekends ago, thirty-three volunteers of all ages showed up and helped rip apart the remnants of the old roller-skating rink that also houses the Scotts Valley Library. Led by Gorski, the volunteers removed walls, piled up debris and plasterboard, and saved some reusable materials like wooden two-by-fours.
“We are reclaiming a lot of lumber, insulation, electrical, you name it,” Gorski said. “We are reclaiming everything because if we can reuse it, then we don’t have to buy it.”
These leftover materials will serve as the framing for the stage.
“This is probably a $50,000 demolishing if we had to hire it out,” Dugger said.
This new performing arts center will be 9,000 square feet and is designed to incorporate between 228 and 300 seats, an orchestra pit, a stage, a control room, bathrooms, a backstage area, dressing rooms, and a lobby.
“The estimate to have this done professionally was something around $4 million, and we are going to get it up and running for about $100,000,” Gorski said, adding “it needs about $1 million to be nice.”
Gorski and Dugger also said that the new center would be a major asset to the city in terms of developing the Town Center. There is plenty of parking, a safe place to walk about, and is easily accessible by the entire county.
The performing arts center will be located at 251-B Kings Village Road in the same building as the library, but at the other end.
Local theater companies, groups, and professionals will be able to lease the space for a reasonable price. The space will also be available to local school groups, regional and national performance groups, private recitals and performances, individuals, other professionals, and business meetings/presentations.
Completing the demolition and acquiring funding is the next step for the guild so that the stage can be built.
“(Performing arts) teaches the young people how to perform in front of large groups, it teaches them to listen and to have empathy,” Dugger said. “It is such a huge learning process that they can take with them throughout their lives.”
Saturday, Feb. 21 is the next scheduled workday for the center and Gorski is looking for volunteers to show up and help complete the demolition.
Anyone interested is encouraged to contact him by phone at 461-1715 or by email at rg*******@sb*******.net.
