Musings on theatre in Mammoth Lakes

Here's a letter our own Jim Harnagel submitted to the Mammoth Times:

Flourish the arts

Dennis Kostecki’s eloquent letter (Mammoth Times, 6/17) about the power of theatre and its value to the community gets a standing ovation!! That letter alludes to “those in power positions” that may determine the direction and future of theatre in Mammoth and the Eastern Sierra. I maintain that moving and powerful letter proves that power resides, not in a venue or in a board, but in the ardent commitment to the art. It’s because of people who love it that theatre exists. Why will theatre in Mammoth continue to flourish? Because the writer – and others like him – WILL it to be so!

I’d like to reassure people that theatre in Mammoth does indeed have momentum: Sierra Classic Theatre is celebrating its 10th year anniversary this year (check out Diane Eagle’s article on them in the March/April 2006 issue of Mammoth Sierra Magazine). SCT has articulated a clear vision and has consistently and successfully brought that vision of classic theatre to fruition. And, so I’m told, they’ve been able to do it and stay “in the black” – by dint of their deep passion and enormous amounts of sweat. As an actor who has trod the boards in LA for 30 years – in theatres opulent and, uh, “less than opulent” – I admired them as much as for their fearlessness as for their smart and fiscally sound way of producing theatre. So much so that, three years ago this weekend, I brought my own modest production of Jon Robin Baitz’ “Three Hotels” to perform for them – with your own Lesley Bruns in the female lead.

And, of course, Tony Barrett looms large in the Mammoth theatrical firmament, having produced the well-received “Light Up The Sky” and “Friends Like These,” as well as Theatre Neo’s productions in the Village. Let’s not forget the steady growth of Playhouse 395 “down the hill” in Bishop. And, even in these difficult times, Rusty Gregory bought out the house for a extra production of “Sylvia” for MMSA employees.And, later this year, look forward to the inaugural production by the Bohemia Players! But none of this would be possible were it not for the likes of you who will stand up and say “This is good. This is valuable. This must continue.” I applaud you!

Jim Harnagel
Pasadena, Calif.