Things just got a LOT more interesting

One week ago - almost to the minute - I did a third walkthrough of the proposed theater site, this time with playwright and television writer Craig Wright. Many of you may not immediately recognize the name but it's almost guaranteed that you have seen his work.

Wright is an accomplished playwright, having penned several successful Off-Broadway plays. Wright's plays are performed throughout the country by colleges and professional theaters. Wright also has extensive experience writing in Hollywood, where he has penned episodes of HBO's "Six Feet Under" (for which he received an Emmy nomination), ABC's "Lost," and NBC's "Brothers and Sisters." Wright is also the creator, executive producer, and head writer for "Dirty Sexy Money," which aired on ABC in 2007 and 2008.

Oddly, a couple decades or so ago, Wright was looking at a map of Minnesota and the town of "Pine City" caught his eye. In his mind, the town's name conjured up a beautiful image of a small town and the people that existed therein. And just like that, a fictional "Pine City, Minnesota" became the setting of his next play.

And three more after that.

Wright had no formal connection to Pine City, in fact, even after using the setting in four of his plays (plus a fifth one set in Florida that features people who formerly lived in Pine City), Wright still never had even taken time to visit Pine City.

Until last Monday.

Last Monday Wright and I explored the old Gillespie Garage together, where I shared with him my vision of converting it into a space for professional theater.

You may be asking yourself, "how did Craig Wright end up in Pine City?" Or, "how did you ever get in touch with him?" Well, a good friend of mine who is the City Planner of Pine City had previously been in contact with Wright (being the good City Planner that he is, he wanted to know why some New York playwright was writing shows set in Pine City, Minnesota). The City Planner called Wright and told him about my theater project. Craig was excited and said he'd like to talk to me.

So three weeks ago we had a conversation in which Wright revealed to me that he was very excited about my vision and would possibly like to collaborate with me. Build the theater, he said, and he would consider establishing a professional summer theater workshop where actors and directors from around the country would come to Pine City for six weeks each summer to write, rehearse, and perform new plays.

This. Was. Huge.

Of course, it was just brainstorming. First and foremost, I still hadn't purchased the building. Secondly, the building was in need of major renovations, maybe as much as $200,000. Thirdly, Wright reminded me that he was making no promises. Fair enough, I thought.

After all, it's a heck of a starting point, if nothing else.

Well, it turns out that Wright was pretty serious. Serious enough to stop by Pine City as he was passing through the Midwest last week. And after having seen the space, he's still interested.

So we move ahead. Slow and steady, a wise man once told me. Slow and steady.

And maybe next summer, you'll be seeing ads for the Craig Wright Theater Workshop, featuring new works by accomplished artists from as far away as New York. Of course, it won't be happening on Broadway.

It'll be happening right here in Pine City, Minnesota.

I hope.

The Business Plan / Mission Statement

Writing a business plan has actually turned out to be a very interesting process. It forced me to really consider the mission of the theater and how its administration would be organized. I also learned very quickly that I was going to need to prioritize and organize - and figure out what was important in the "here and now."

A business plan should make your project look attractive to potential investors but it has to be honest. You can't fudge the facts. So here it is, as of 18 Sept 10: View/Download Business Plan.

I have also posted a document with the basic information about the theater, including a vision and mission statement. You can View/Download Vision/Mission Statement Here.

I should also point out that I do not currently own the building. I will address this topic in a future post, but am presently negotiating with the seller to come to terms regarding a final price. I don't like to admit this to myself (or anyone else) but after the hundreds of hours I've poured into this project over the past six weeks, it would be crushingly disappointment if we couldn't come to terms on the purchase of the building. That said, the more I plan and prepare for this project, I realize that this building is only one location that could support a theater such that I propose.

First Community Walkthrough

A walkthrough with about 20 community members (contractors, downtown business owners, city staff, representatives from other arts organizations, etc.) took place in late August, at which time I revealed my vision of transforming the 1920 building into a venue for professional theater.

It was exciting to discover that the roof and foundation were in good condition and that there are no load bearing interior walls. Large steel trusses span the width of the entire building, which will allow for easier rehabilitation of the space into a theater. It also ensure that the venue can be easily modified for concerts, dinner theater, wedding receptions, business meetings, conferences, and more.

(Above, you can see the facade of the building that faces Main Street or "Old Highway 61" - this would be the main entrance of the theater.)

There was great enthusiasm for the project from everyone in attendance. All the enthusiasm in the world, though, did little to dispel the elephant in the room: "how are we going to pay for this?"

I set to work on writing a business plan. In fact, I wasn't really sure what a business plan was. God bless the internet!

How it began...

Sometime in early August, I was walking downtown Pine City and happened past a vacant building that commonly known as "The old JB's Rental," since it most recently functioned as a rental center. But the older folks in town still call it the Gillespie Garage. The Gillespie family constructed the building in 1920 as an auto garage and car dealership and it continued as such for decades. Step inside the doors and you can still smell a hint of oil in the air and imagine the classic cars as they were displayed prominently to those who passed by on Highway 61 (yes, THAT Highway 61, the one that Bob Dylan sang about).

I realized I had never set foot inside the building but it was obviously large - and had been vacant for many years. I called my realtor and a few days later we walked through the building. It was immediately clear to me that this space could transform amazingly well into a live performance venue. At over 7,200 sq. ft. it would be spacious enough for a lobby/concession area (and eventually a bar), offices, expanded restrooms, workshop space, dressing rooms, and a 200- to 250-seat theater. Not too big, not too small. Just right.

I went home and thought seriously to myself: Is this really what I want to do? Start a theater? With what money? And give up my current job as a teacher (which I love)?

I decided I needed to talk to others about my vision and whether it was realistic.

Everyone I talked to said it was a brilliant idea. (I was secretly hoping they would say, "no, don't do it.") So I sat down and started looking at my finances and started talking to contractors. And I decided I would need to do another walkthrough. The ball was rolling and I wasn't sure where....

I have asked myself many times where this whole idea came from. Over the past several years, I have become more and more interested and involved in theater (my formal training is in music) and knew I wanted to make it a bigger part of my personal and professional life.

About two years ago, I was serving on the planning committee of a local arts organization as they sought a home for a new arts center. We toured several local properties, as well as traveling to other communities to study successful models elsewhere. That organization, Pine Center for the Arts, found a home in a downtown storefront that features an art gallery and classroom/lesson space. But there is still a definite need for performance space in Pine City.

Currently, the only venue is the Pine City Elementary Auditorium, a 630-seat theater that was completed in 1938. Not only would my project fulfill a personal desire to produce and direct semi-professional and professional theater, but it would add a much needed performance venue for other local organizations.

It's a win-win for everyone involved.

One man's quest ...

I am 30 years old and I have finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I want to run my own performing arts center, focusing on live, professional theater.

And I want to do it in Pine City, Minnesota.

Am I crazy? Many people would say "yes." But most of the truly great ideas in history have been hatched by people branded as "crazy." Maybe it's safer to say that I'm a dreamer.

Whichever word you choose, though, I look forward to sharing this journey with you. Over the course of the next few weeks, months, and hopefully years, this blog site will document the process and struggle to acquire a building, establish a professional theater company, and make enough money doing so that I will be able to quit my present job.

The process actually started a couple months ago, so in subsequent posts, I will be bringing you all up to date on what has happened thus far.

Thanks for your interest. I'll be in touch.

Brad