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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Miscellaneous_Tab 4_5/6/1996 Coastal Playhouse Home of Coastal Players,inc. 183 Tequesta Drive,Tequesta,FL 33469 (407)746-6303 * Fax (407)575-2009. Mailing Address: P.O.Box 1641,Jupiter,FL 33468 April 15, 1996 Mr. Tom Bradford, Village Manager . Village of Tequesta 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, FL 33469 Dear Mr. Bradford, As you know, the Coastal Players' lease on the old Lighthouse Plaza Cinema will not be renewed beyond June 30, 1996. This again leaves the community theater without a.home. The Board of Directors of Coastal Players would very much like to keep the activities of the theater in Tequesta, as we have enjoyed great success during this past season, with audiences and revenues steadily building. Do you know of any way that the Village of Tequesta could help the Players to stay in the Village? Although the Players do not have a large bank account at present,we have been told by the DiVosta organization that may remove from the building everything that is there now: seats, lighting, 10-ton air conditio ler, sound system, stage, etc. In effect, this means that we have the "mak- ings"of a theatre;we just don't have the building. What we need, in a nutshell, is this: a space, ideally 8,000 square feet, but no smaller than 6,000 square feet. (Our present space is 4,000 square feet.) The space needs a roof/ceiling about 22-24' high, to allow for a sloped auditorium floor, elevated control room, and space above for hanging lights and scenery. There needs to be plumbing (bathrooms) available for both audience members and backstage. In our present space we have,no room to build scenery, to rehearse, or to have office space. The additional footage would take care of these needs. We currently seat 160;this seems to be a good size,although 200 would give increased opportunities for revenue without lengthening the "run" of a show. (We do have enough extra seats from the old movie theater.) During the last year we have been paying rent to DiVosta, plus, of course, electric,water, etc. Our income is derived mainly from the sale of tickets. Besides our own mainstage productions (7 this past year), we have had several other events take place in the theater; a list is attached. As noted, most of the events brought in rental fees. We have always felt that we could generate even more "outside" rentals as we become bete r known;just last week a commercial firm inquired about using the theater to film an "info-mercial." A small-theater setup is ideal for chamber music concerts, poetry readings, lectures, children's shows, even churches. When we undertook the renovation of the old movie theater,we committed all of our savings ($9,000) to the project. With volunteers,donations, and very hard work we accomplished what was estimated to be a$60,000 makeover of the building. When we finished we were about$10,000 in debt, but we have paid off all of our bills and are now working to build our bank account as quickly as possible. We are currently in production of our last play of the season, the comedy "Alone Together." The Board of Directors has also decided to produce, as the final show in the present theater, a musical revue, with one of the nights being a Fundraising Gala to help with necessary moving and storage ex- penses. In summation, we hope that the Village will agree that Coastal Players can be an asset in the com- munity, providing not just plays, but possibly a venue for lectures, small concerts, recitals, children's theatre - in short, a performing arts center on a small scale. We are now in our 32nd season; we hope to be here for at least 32 more! Si9.cerely yours, /, (07 Susan Emley President IfThe Community Theater as Community Resource During the past 12 months of operation,•the following events have taken place at the Coastal Playhouse: April 1995: "Weekend Comedy" - play May 1995: Year-end dance recital - Artstage, Jupiter* • May 1995: Year-end drama recital: Jupiter Parks & Recreation Department* June 1995: "Twain by the Tale" - play August 1995: Professional puppet show for children* Sept. 1995: Jupiter-Tequesta-Juno Beach Chamber of Commerce monthly coffee Sept-Oct 1995: "Run for Your Wife" - play Nov. 1995: "I Do! I Do!"- musical comedy Dec. 1995: "A Nutcracker Dream" - Christmas show* January 1996: "On Golden Pond" -play January 1996: Jupiter-Tequesta-Hobe Sound Board of Realtors meeting* February 1996: Christian Science Church lecture* March 1996: "Red Hot& Cole" - musical revue • April 1996: "Alone Together" -play May 1996: Year-end event-Turtle River Montessori School* May-June 1996: "Everything's Coming Up Roses" musical revue Sept. 1996: Participating in the Jupiter-Tequesta-Juno Beach Chanter of Commerce festivities re- enacting the landing of Jonathan Dickinson. . . . and the theater classes for children which started in June 1995, still continue. Please note: Events marked with *were outside rentals, generating revenue for the theater.