Waimea Community Theatre in danger of closing permanently
The Waimea Community Theatre, one of the longest-lived community theaters in this state, is on the brink of having to cease its operations. In recent years, WCT has faced growing financial problems as a result of changing venues, participants, and productions. While the organization used to mount five productions a year and was based at Parker School Theatre, it has been reduced to three productions a year with performances at Parker, the Honokaa People’s Theatre or the Privateers’ Cove in Kona. It remains the theater’s mission to offer a wide variety of performances from Shakespeare to modern drama and comedies. Open casting of almost all productions has given local participants the chance to portray and to present all kinds of shows.
Now, the COVID-19 lockdown has forced us to interrupt the planned production of “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” a classic for all ages from C. S. Lewis without the expected income from that production, the organization is finding it difficult to fund any future productions. It usually costs from $5,000 to $15,000 to pay for royalties, sets, costumes and musicians to present a show. That money must be spent upfront before any income is realized.
WCT does not pay performers, directors, builders and painters. All serve as volunteers just for the fun and experience alone. WCT has no paid staff. Its treasury is currently less than $3,000.
The organization is sorely in need of a dependable and affordable place to present its shows as well as some angels who are willing to provide financial support by donation or grants during this difficult period. If you are willing to help extend the life of this important community resource, please immediately contact Waimea Community Theatre, PO Box 1660, Kamuela, HI 96743 or admin@waimeacommunitytheatre.org. WCT is a nonprofit corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
Board of Directors
Waimea Community Theatre
Say what?
The very first thing Jeffrey Kalani Coakley writes is, “If you believe in personal responsibility.” And he ends with “it’s time to vote Republican.” What? We have a president who takes absolutely no responsibility for anything he says, does, or writes? To which I say Vote Democrat.
Cindy Ku’upua Whitehawk
South Kona
Don’t let them carry guns
With the nationwide push to reform police departments in America, nobody is discussing an obvious solution to cops gratuitously shooting people: don’t let them carry guns. Yes, we assume that firearms are necessary to cops on patrol and in some situations they are. But it might surprise most Americans that in many countries around the world, such as the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Thailand and others, police do not carry guns. Whatever their crime rates, these countries have very few folks ever gunned down by police, as compared to the good old USA. It would be nice to think other nations have something to teach us, but I’m not optimistic. No guns for cops would be a difficult sell in America. We love guns and violence just like we love the flag and cherry pie. It has been a part of America’s psyche since the first settlers reached our shores and is still as strong as ever. That’s the sad reality folks. Just a thought.
John Kitchen
Kona
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