PIVOTING WITH ... TAMMY FRANKLIN AND THE CURTAIN PLAYHOUSE
Pictured: Eric Franklin, Tammy Franklin and lead teacher Meagan Ritchie.
Wheat Ridge Playhouse saves itself by serving its local community
The Curtain Playhouse, located in Wheat Ridge, was founded in 2005 as a place for youth theatre education. It has since staged nearly 150 productions, including technical training for students interested in producing, directing, costuming, properties and lighting.
What are you doing to pivot? We are using our theatre space to host learning pods to help families with remote learning when parents have to work.
Why are you doing it? We knew in April that The Curtain Playhouse was going to close if we didn't do something. After 15 years of teaching kids theatre, there was no way we were going to give up on our company. We began just by realizing that we have a full-time space that we only use part time. We stretched ourselves to look at different ways we could be open during the day.
'To stay alive, we all need to stretch ourselves.'
Words of encouragement for others who are now pivoting their way through 2020? We are so scared of what is happening to the arts everywhere. It seems like almost every day, we lose another theatre group, our ballet company, or someone is cancelling performances. What will the world be if when we finally come back from this there are no arts? To stay alive, we all need to stretch ourselves. For some, it is offering different classes. For others, it will take a true "pivot" of looking hard at the way we do business. We must look forward to ways we can maintain the spirit of human connection that we all hunger for. Look to ways you can be of service to the community outside of the box of your art form.
'Look to ways you can be of service to the community outside of the box of your art form.'
The Curtain Playhouse is located at 7393 W. 44th Ave., in Wheat Ridge. For more information, call 720-308-2920, email perform@thecurtainplayhouse.com or go to thecurtainplayhouse.com
Compiled by Senior Arts Journalist John Moore
"Pivoting With ..." is a new, ongoing series talking with members of the Colorado theatre community about how they are adapting to changes in their creative and personal lives as the COVID pandemic continues. Are you pivoting? Email John at culturewestjohn@gmail.com.