MOUNTAIN, MUSICAL MAGIC ... AND A SMALL MIRACLE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REPERTORY THEATRE RAISED TO A NEW LEVEL
By Susan Brandt / Photos by Carter Photographics

NEW & IMPROVED: When the Eslick property at the corner of Grand Avenue and Vine became available, the theatre jumped at the opportunity to keep their location in downtown Grand Lake.

Who would have believed it?
Just about everyone who has set foot in the 172-seat Grand Lake Community House will agree that it has some of the best Broadway musical theatre west of – well – Broadway!

“Believers” include lovers of good theatre, the residents and merchants of Grand Lake, and the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre (RMRT) Board of Trustees and staff that knew raising $5 million in the midst of an economic downturn was not an impossible dream.

After five years of turning away an average of 80 patrons per performance, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre moves into its $5 million not-a-bad-seat-in-the-house theatre this summer. Beauty and the Beast is the opening offering selected by artistic director, Michael Querio, joined by Guys and Dolls, and Chess as the summer productions. Almost Heaven … the Songs of John Denver is the selected fall production.

Michael is a magnet for excellence. Over the last five years, he and his colleagues have raised this theatre to a new level. But while RMRT’s mission to produce truly fine theatre was being fulfilled, the space constraints of the Community House were limiting the ability of its directors, choreographers, costume and set designers, technical staff and performers to employ all of their talents – and the patrons’ ability to buy a ticket!

Location, Location, Location
Carol Wolff, the theatre’s executive director since 2005, remembers, “Our board and staff had faced the fact that the status quo was not workable, and that if we were to grow and serve our patrons well, our only option, though far from being a simple one, was to build a new home.”

NEW DIGS, OLD COZINESS: The new theatre is elegant and much larger than the old one, but maintains its intimacy and charm.

“But where would we find a vacant piece of land with high visibility that would accommodate an 11,000-square-foot structure?” And it had to be in Grand Lake, where the theatre has lived for the better part of four decades, and where it wished to remain.

Wheels began to turn when the Eslick property at the corner of Grand Avenue and Vine became available. At the close of negotiations, an anonymous donor footed the bill – $720,000 – not a bad financial beginning to a campaign that would ultimately take under three years and raise an excess of $5 million – over 99 percent of it from private donations and foundation grants. (The Town of Grand Lake has only 450 permanent residents, but more than 1,000 individuals contributed to the building project.)

Now all it would take was more money – lots of it – and a dedication and commitment on the part of many to present an opportunity for investment in the town and in its theatre.

“Asking people for money can be a daunting experience,” says Judy Jensen, a Grand Lake business owner. Judy has served as president of the organization for four years and chaired the Raise the Curtain Capital Campaign with former managing director Chad Scott, who served double duty as campaign manager. “We learned early on that there was such great enthusiasm for RMRT and its potential that we quit ‘asking.’ Instead, we offered our potential donors an opportunity to invest in the arts as well as in the economic growth of Grand Lake – in other words, leave their legacy.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: To acknowledge the financial commitments from those who helped make the dream a reality, RMRT incorporated an elegant donor wall.

One board member recalls an intermission in August of 2009 during which a benefactor offered the theatre quite a deal saying that if the board could raise $100,000 in 24 hours, he and his family would match it. Board members were contacted and told to do “whatever it takes” toward that end. The next evening, before the performance, Judy stepped onto the stage and informed then managing director, Chad Scott, “We did not raise $100,000 … (a pause, accompanied by audible distress from the audience). We raised $164,000!!!”

Finally … the First Shovel of Dirt!
On April 10, 2010, under the watchful eye of Troy and Rob Neiberger, and Fletcher Markle of Big Valley Construction of Granby, the first shovel of dirt was turned. Dot Weber, who has chaired the Building Committee for RMRT commends Big Valley Construction, saying, “Working with them has been a joy, as they’ve truly partnered with us in being prudent about every penny spent.”

The RMRT Board of Trustees charged Big Valley with the task of using Grand County resources whenever possible. “We always remember where we live,” says Dot, “and are pleased that so many locals participated in this project.”

Rob Neiberger, Big Valley’s operation manager, remembers interviewing with RMRT’s Building Committee for the general contracting of this project. “We were very excited to have the opportunity to build a building that would provide such a special amenity to this community – one where families and friends would gather and make happy memories for many years to come. We also understood that this was a ‘dream come true’ for many local volunteers and supporters. The construction team, including O’Bryan Architects, both Benchmark Enterprises and Wells Partnership (serving as construction managers), the RMRT Building Committee and Big Valley Construction, worked diligently to ensure that each and every dollar was carefully and judiciously spent toward enhancement of this incredible theatre.”

RMRT THRIVES IN GRAND LAKE: With huge talent and a strong local following, RMRT was left with one problem that many theatres would love to have – not enough seats for their patrons. Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre.

Michael Querio and his staff audition about 1,200 young professionals from around the country to select RMRT’s “summer stars.” The residents of Grand Lake welcome them with open arms, sprucing up their living quarters prior to their arrival, cooking for them, and taking them under their collective wings.

A Better-Than-Broadway Love Story
Clare Arena and Scott Haden met at RMRT as actors in 1998, fell in love, were married in that charming Community House, and now serve on the RMRT staff. Clare serves as education director for the three Youth Theatre Workshops that serve over 100 Grand County youth annually.

“I’ve seen kids grow from introverted, lost-in-the-crowd individuals, to confident, self-empowered leaders in just three weeks. This magnificent, new facility will enable us to better serve and positively affect the lives of these ‘super star’ youth. What a gift to the young residents of this rural county!”

Scott Haden, who describes his job as the theatre’s managing director as “one that evolves hourly” states, “When I first set foot in Grand Lake in 1997, I felt like I had come home, and somehow knew that I would return. Now, to be a part of this theatre at such a remarkable time in its life, when a dream like this is being realized, is simply incredible. It’s just magic.”

All the Right Stuff
Join in the celebration of Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre’s opening season in their 11,000-square-foot facility designed in a “Grand Lake Rustic” architectural style, incorporating log siding, stone work and the use of sunburst patterns in the exterior.

“Providing our actors, musicians and technical staff with all they could need to perform optimally and ensuring the comfort of our theatre guests were paramount in our planning,” says Michael. “The 297 comfy and plush stadium seats, the fine acoustics, sound system and lighting are quite a departure from that Community House that we’ve inhabited for so many years. But the intimacy and coziness that we loved there has not been lost in our new home. Maintaining that was one of my prime goals and I believe that has been accomplished very well.”

For more information, visit www.rockymountainrep.com or call the box office: 970.627.3421.

READ MORE STORIES FROM THIS ISSUE:
• The History of Grand Lake Lodge: Elegant Hotel Rich in Grand County History
• Re-Doing the View: Remodel Accentuates Fabulous Views with New Kitchen
• Green Parade: Beetle-Kill Wood Gets Second Life in Mountain Cabin
• Green Parade: Grand County & Front Range Come to a Watershed Agreement
• Summer 2011 Articles