STOWE, Vt. (WCAX) – “Any kind of theatre experience is a platform for young people,” Stowe Theatre Guild Co-Founder Nancy Jefferies-Dwyer said.
For people like Nancy Jefferies-Dwyer, it’s no question the theatre holds a special place in her heart.
“A community theater is an instrumental part of the vitality and vibrancy of a community, especially a small community,” she said.
The Stowe Theatre Guild was founded in 1995, but after years of performances, they’ve had a hard time bouncing back ever since the pandemic shrunk operations.
“We’ve struggled a little,” Stowe Theatre Guild board member Molly Nesselrodt said.
The Guild canceled their 2023 season because of air conditioning issues at the Town Hall Theatre. Although productions occurred, it wasn’t in their original space. Now their goal now is to get back into their theatre to continue providing the Stowe community with an outlet for the arts.
“No matter what we are, we have new blood we have new energy, and we are headed in the right direction,” she said.
But Guild members say they can’t do it alone, and they need to raise $21,000 to cover production costs. So they’re asking the public for help with donations.
Nesselrodt says to maintain the theatre and arts in Stowe, they need the money and more volunteers.
“We also would really like to increase our number of volunteers. We had an amazing volunteer base before covid and then I think every organization has suffered some post covid,” she said.
But the town seems to be ready to help. The Stowe selectboard has plans to repair the theatre’s HVAC system if voters approve the proposed budget in March.
“If we get the thumbs up there, we can move forward,” she said.
While some residents in town had questions about why the guild needed so much help and what needs the money would address, those I spoke to say they believe it’s a reasonable price to keep the arts going.
“I don’t think it’s excessive at all. I mean, it’s really expensive to run, you think about the operations that it takes, so I don’t think it’s a big ask and I think that ‘yes of course I would donate and support the arts’ and I would imagine people in Stowe would as well,” Stowe resident Rachel Moore said.
Theatre guild members say if all goes according to plan, they’re optimistic they will be back within the next two years, and say they’re ready to do what it takes to get on the right track.
“We’re on the up and up and I think that students will be able to be presenting the community with amazing high-quality shows that can entertain them and encourage that community aspect here in Stowe,” Nesselrodt said.”
Looks like it won’t be the final act for Stowe Theatre Guild reporting in Stowe. A board member tells me that they do plan on having at least two productions in 2024.