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.