Week 1:
The Theater at 9,000 Feet

June 3, 2017

The drive to Creede Repertory Theatre (CRT) was long and treacherous but well worth the wait. At first glance Creede, Colorado may seem like a boring average small town in the middle of nowhere. But, in the middle of nowhere there is an amazing repertory theater. I arrived and was immediately greeted with friendliness and promises of an amazing summer. I met my supervisor, Graham, and began to work. CRT is such a small theater that everyone has a lot of hats to where and everyone’s work is crucial to the season’s success. This summer I will be working as development specialist, which means I will be helping set up special events for donors, recording donations, and finding new ways the theater can raise money. Creede Repertory Theatre is a non profit theater and therefore relies heavily on donations and grants. Every little bit that is donated to the theater means the difference between a mediocre set and a great one. Another part of my job is going to be a patrons service worker, meaning I will be working in box office selling tickets and working front of house preparing the audience member’s for the shows as well as selling concessions. The third and last segment of my job is going to be assisting in the business office doing whatever needs to be done. I understand that the people who work here are very busy running a professional theater and that whatever I can do to help is meaningful.

My first week was spent putting up the first big events. Graham and I prepared for a concert by local folk musicians called the Big River Band. They performed after the unveiling of the season poster. Every year CRT has a different artist create a poster to represent the theater for that year.

Another large event that will happen every two weeks for the first month is a Show Preview! Previews are a show that only people who sponsored the show are allowed to attend. They have food beforehand and they get to see the show before it opens as well as some free concessions. It’s basically a big thank you to our donors for supporting us!

And what would working at a theater be if I haven’t already seen some shows! The first large show of the summer opened and I got to see it before the set was finished as well as opening night. The show is the classic musical She Loves Me and is absolutely amazing. The set is extremely mobile and beautiful. In addition I got to attend  Pants on Fire which is an entirely improvised musical done for kids that teaches them lessons as well as being so fun for anyone who walks in. Being an improv artist as well as a business oriented theater person I was drooling everywhere watching this amazing improv in this tiny town. They were amazing and I can’t wait to watch an entrily new show every week as well as watching their actual improv comedy group Boomtown when it opens. I can already tell this is gonna be an amazing summer.