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Tom Chaney Comment for Feb. 8, 2009: KTR needs help now This column posted As Soon As Possible, because of urgency of Horse Cave theatre's plight, ahead of its February 8, 2009, date, at Columnist's request. To send your help, call the theatre at (270) 786-1200 today Of Writers And Their Books: No. 193 Comment "Theatre falls on Hard Times in Horse Cave". Last week's Tom Chaney review of: Julian by Gore Vidal By Tom Chaney bookstore@scrtc.com Theatre on Hard Times in Horse Cave Kentucky Repertory Theatre is in serious financial difficulty. The trouble is not of the theatre's own making.The current economic climate which forced the price of gasoline to outrageously high levels during last season cut sharply into box office revenue. Some corporate and foundation contributors whose help the theatre could, in the past, rely upon have felt it necessary to rein in and refocus their giving. Individual giving is down. Many folks have much less to give to the causes which we deem worthy. One answer is for KRT to pull in its horns. That the theatre is doing. Painful but necessary staff reductions have been made. Every economy from the selection of smaller cast plays to double duty for staff members is in the works. Of course, the staff are searching for every possible avenue for government and corporate funding. But the big answer is us. You and I have the opportunity to see fine theatre in rural, south-central Kentucky. Those of us of a certain age remember the time when a ticket to a professional theatre production was as scarce as a bottle of legal whiskey in Horse Cave. A dream was born in the 1960's to change that. In 1977 Horse Cave Theatre was born. The birthing room of the theatre was not a glitzy boardroom with corporate money flowing into the theatre's bank account. The record of its birth is on the wall of the theatre lobby. The record is a little bronze plaque with 112 names on it. Those are the names of the original folks who wanted a theatre in these parts. A few of the names are of grade school children who pledged five or ten dollars. Some of those were Girl Scouts who gave their spare time to chipping plaster off the old dime store brick wall soon to absorb the words of Shaw, Williams, and Shakespeare. Citizens old and young scraped chewing gum off the seats. Two of the names represented gifts of over $5,000. They were the biggest contributors. One of those died before the theatre opened its doors. Others gave more. Their gifts were more substantial and private. Their names are not so well publicized. But on that list, in between the $5 and $5000, were more than a hundred others. Some were business men who knew the theatre would be good for business. Others were theatre fans tired of the long drive to Louisville for quality plays. Many were parents who were determined to provide a place where their children could explore the world and begin to know themselves. Many of those Girl Scouts came back to see plays. Some of them worked backstage. Others attended classes. Some even acted. All were enriched for life. The life of KRT has been a 33-year touch-and-go struggle. The quality has remained high. That has brought national recognition. Actors tell me that when they tell their peers in such places as New York that they have worked in Horse Cave, eyes light up with recognition and respect. But that is only a small part of the tale. Last year Kentucky Repertory Theatre enfolded some 15,500 students in their educational arms. Those students came from more than 30 counties around us -- a quarter of the state -- as well as from some counties in Tennessee. In an area where the arts have always taken a tenuous back seat in the public schools, KRT has filled that gap. If we do not rally in this time of crisis to save the theatre we will be letting down those 15,500 students. I cannot live with that on my conscience. Can you? Call the theatre at (270) 786-1200. Ask what you may do. Yes, there is an 800 number, but why should you not pay for your own call? Tom Chaney can be found telling stories, smoking pipe-weed, and occasionally selling books at: THE BOOKSTORE Box 73 / 111 Water Street Horse Cave, Kentucky 42749 270-786-3084 Email: Tom Chaney bookstore@scrtc.com To read other Tom Chaney book reviews and essays, enter "Tom Chaney" in the searchbox. The Bookstore in Horse Cave, KY This story was posted on 2009-02-03 01:35:16
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Tom Chaney: Of Writers and Their Books:
Tom Chaney #192, Feb. 1, 2009: Review of Julian Tom Chaney #191, Jan. 25, 2009: Tom Chaney No. 190, Jan. 18, 2009: Review-The Private Patient Tom Chaney No. 189, Jan. 11, 2009: Review of The Other Tom Chaney: No. 188. Essay: New Year's Resolution Tom Chaney: No. 187. Essay: Country Ham at Christmas Tom Chaney: Review Dec. 14, 2008 of Lincoln the Lawyer Tom Chaney: Reprint of Review of Lion of Whitehall Tom Chaney No. 185. Nov. 30, 2008: Geraldine Brooks Tom Chaney No. 184. Nov. 23, 2008: On censorship View even more articles in topic Tom Chaney: Of Writers and Their Books |
 
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