by Jane Belden

March 25 was a red letter day for the Trinity Players as they prepared for the promised performance of Aliatair Fraser and Natalie Haas in the Trinity Alps performing Arts Center. This performance was sponsored by The Trinity Players, Inc., Trinity Arts Council and Drew Franklin.

I spent the day at the new theater with many others involved and by 4:00 pm we had the place spic and span ready for the performance. It was a sold out house and people were lined up at the door before six o'clock. Ticket buyers were forewarned that the Performing Arts Center would not be 100% complete but it was 90% complete thanks to the many hands contributing to the final installations of safety requirements and clean up. All the carpet wasn't installed, only the staircases remained to be carpeted. Dressing rooms need to be finished and stage drapery correctly installed on their tracks. These things were not visible to the audience. The traveler drape was tied up to the grid pipes for this performance. It looked very nice. In the future it will be permanently installed at the back of the stage. They hope to get donations for a mid-stage traveler so they can easily get the look of the more intimate stage like they had this time.

The audience of well wishers, happy to be there for the first show in the theater sat in the comfortable seats and listened to the flowing sound of this world renowned Scottish National Champion Fiddler and one of his prize students perform. Alistair broke up the sequences of their duets by interspersing dialogues about Scotland and his experiences traveling and performing. This thoroughly amused and entertained the audience. Behind the scenes Angela Green provided the lighting design and was the lighting tech, using The Player's old lighting equipment, with the assistance of Nancy Kohl and Jane Belden on follow spots. Jim French (President of Trinity Players, Inc.) provided the sound set up and ran the sound as well as acting as MC, starting out the evening by honoring one of the charter members of The Trinity Players, Barbara Polka, with flowers. Having Barbara see this long time dream come through was the highlight of my evening. Corky LeTellier, as past president, spoke a few words in thanks for all who contributed time and money.

Trinity Player's Board of Directors, Jim French, David Hammer, Kevin Cahill, Corky LeTellier, Emmitt Hein, Mike Wenniger, Jane Belden, Nancy Kohl, Pat Treadwell, Ann Hill and Marylnn Rubi and other volunteers have physically put in time working and/or have made and supported the decisions and efforts of this project. Sam Shults has been on the spot from the start volunteering his time for what ever is needed. Berry Stewart has volunteered many weeks of painting the interior and varnishing doors and wood railings.

In the foyer there was a watercolor showing the facade. It was painted by Karen Hammer. Donations and Grants are still needed before the new front of the building can happen. Karen has put in many volunteer hours at the task of hanging the cloth on the walls.. During this undertaking the Players accepted bids from local contractors when ever possible and so they were able to provide work through the winter for many in Trinity County.

The first performance went well and although there were a few minor problems at intermission, the flow of traffic worked favorably and the foyer space was adequate, I assume those fortunate enough to obtain tickets to the performance were dutifully impressed with what had been accomplished by all the workers headed up by David Hammer and Duane Heryford. Work will continue until this endeavor is finished.

After the show Marylnn and I went to the LaGrange Restaurant for dinner and ended up staying until midnight listening to Jim French, Alastair Fraser and Big Earle jamming in the LaGrange Pub. Those at the table were Susan Holthouse ( Main Street Gallery) and her family and friends. All had been to the performance. The end to a perfect day.

Reprinted courtesy of the Trinity Journal

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