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Here's What's at Stake....
An Extraordinary Year!
The extraordinary years build, one after the other. What a dramatic history we share! With the extraordinary community we have for the Forest Theater Guild, we have just completed what is probably the most ambitious season ever presented by the Guild. Our All-Star Student program established a new model for pro-active outreach to youth throughout Monterey County that is a national leadership archetype. More than 150 students from under-represented populations participated in the production; 1,400 students attended the performances, and we attracted a diverse new audience to the theater. Furthermore, our partnership with the Monterey County Office of Education in the production of Zoot Suit: The Documentary, exemplified what is possible when the public and private sector combine talents for community benefit. You can feel great pride in what you have helped make live in our new documentary on Channel 26; watch for it in your local listings or download it for FREE from the I-Tunes Store.
In addition, Camelot, directed by the incomparable Reg Huston, was a lavish production honoring the opportunity to have such talent, and EVITA was a bold interpretation in the tradition of the Forest Theater going back almost a hundred years. We showcased the famous story of a great woman in history at a time when American women are taking center stage in international politics.
The Guild Makes A Difference!
The Guild remains an integral part of Carmel's artistic and cultural history. For nearly 100 years, quality community productions have been presented at the historic outdoor Forest Theater. Is it possible that our founding father, Herbert Heron, could have imagined that his vision for a “simple open-air theater” would soon be celebrating its centennial anniversary? I think that he did, for he understood the importance of theater for a healthy community. In founding the Forest Theater Guild, Heron was securing the future for quality community-theater in Carmel.
Why The Arts Are Important!
The RAND Corporation published a report on the benefits of the Arts. Entitled “Gifts of the Muse,” the report documents the societal value of the Arts in a community. Besides the intrinsic benefit that we all know and believe about the theater, the Arts build our sense of community identity. They provide the sort of “social interaction that converts people from being a collection of individuals into members of a community.” (Gifts of the Muse, RAND Corporation, 2004; pg. 84). Moreover, communities with healthy arts organizations are economically more viable. The arts provide employment, tax revenue, and spending for local communities; they attract businesses and highly skilled workers; and they provide numerous “public-good” economic benefits. To quote the RAND Report, the Arts “contribute to the general education and edification of the population and this helps produce happier and more productive communities.” (Gifts of the Muse, RAND Corporation, 2004). Therefore, the Guild takes our legacy seriously.
What's At Stake
Much is at stake for 2009. On the national level, we look with hope to a new President even as we brace for the economic storm to come. On the local level, we look forward to the plans that will make much-needed improvements to our venerable theater. Without changing the rustic character of the original site, the renovation will provide more comfortable seating and sufficient bathrooms for audience and performers as well as improve back stage conditions. The Guild is a critical player in the renovation as a member of the Forest Theater Foundation.
It's no secret that these are challenging times. But it is during times of crisis that community theater becomes even more important. For the theater provides a portal for us to see what is wise and perhaps where there is beauty and dignity in the chaos that surrounds us.
Maintain the Vision!
In all, the Guild maintains the original vision of Herbert Heron; i.e., to highlight local talent while utilizing the natural beauty of the stage and surrounding area. We remain a viable cultural and economic force in our community, and we invite you to be a partner in our Mission and our programs. Please renew your membership today, and please consider renewing at a higher level than in the past. If you have not yet joined the hundreds of Forest Theater Guild supporters, please consider joining us today. Giving is easy. We offer several levels of membership and we provide generous benefits. Most of all, you will know that you are being pro-active in preserving the cultural, economic, and historical values that define our special home on the Central Coast.
Luis Valdez has special authority when he states, “Community creates theater, but theater builds community.” We count on you to help us build this special community. Sending us your membership for 2009 today matters. We know this is a choice that defines your values, and we feel privileged to be part of such a community where the arts, needed more than ever in times like these, will thrive, and give hope to communities everywhere. Thank you and blessings.
Sincerely,
Dr. Barbara Mossberg, President
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