Reflecting on 2025

Theatre Program Report

This year’s theatre season tells a clear story of creativity, momentum, and adaptability.

We began in February with Dear Jack, Dear Louise, followed by Love, Loss, and What I Wore. We were proud to produce Hookwinked by local playwright David Remschel, continuing our commitment to original work and local voices. Later in the season, Treston Woods directed a phenomenal production of The Play That Goes Wrong, which was a standout for both audiences and performers.

Rehearsals for Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville continued through tech week, when the flood abruptly changed our plans. Instead of allowing the work to end unfinished, the cast and creative team found a way to share it. On what would have been closing night, Margaritaville was performed in the parking lot for approximately 400 people—an extraordinary moment of theatre and community.

That spirit continued through the summer. In August, we staged Shipwrecked at Stonehenge II, embracing a nontraditional venue and proving that theatre is not confined to a single space. We are also deeply grateful to Playhouse 2000 for hosting a fundraiser on our behalf and welcoming us into their theatre for Hot Shakespeare.

What audiences experienced this year was creativity and determination onstage. What made that possible was an equally determined effort happening behind the scenes—which leads directly into the Executive Director’s report.

Executive Director’s Report

As you’ve just heard, this year required creativity and flexibility in public ways. It also required steady, deliberate work that most people never saw.

Following the flood, our focus shifted to assessment, documentation, and long-term planning. We worked closely with FEMA, insurance representatives, architects, engineers, donors, and community partners to understand the scope of damage and determine a responsible path forward. We issued an RFQ and completed multiple site walkthroughs, laying the groundwork for decisions that will shape our future for years to come.

At the same time, the organization continued to function. Art classes remained active. Exhibits continued in the gallery. Education and community engagement did not stop, even when progress wasn’t highly visible.

This was also a year that required careful financial oversight and thoughtful leadership. Adjustments were made, expectations were reset, and stability remained the priority.

I want to take a moment to express our deep gratitude to the many individuals and organizations who supported us financially during this year. We are especially thankful to Riverhill Golf Club and The Arcadia Live for hosting Guitars and Greens for the Guadalupe, and to everyone who contributed to that fundraiser. Along with countless other donors who gave generously—often quietly—your support has been essential to our recovery and to our ability to keep moving forward.

I also want to commend our staff, board members, and the countless volunteers who showed up when we needed them most. Their leadership, flexibility, and willingness to step in wherever needed made forward movement possible during an incredibly difficult year.

As we look ahead, we do so with clearer information, stronger partnerships, and a plan rooted in both realism and optimism. The work ahead is significant—but so is the foundation that has already been laid.