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Artists rendering by Paul Roberts + Partners, Vallejo | ||
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The Building is Now Ours! Capital Campaign Case Statement Planning Study Phase Founded in 1967, Vallejo Music Theatre (VMT) is one of the oldest and largest arts organizations in Solano County and the only Company solely dedicated to musical theatre. Our mission is to provide high quality live performing arts to the community. We accomplish our mission through a variety of arts programming including large and small productions, an annual Young Audiences musical production, concerts, children’s summer acting camp, and outreach in the schools and other community venues. VMT is seen as a leading theater resource in Vallejo, often advising local churches, schools and other neighborhood groups on independent productions throughout the community. In recent years, we have adopted nearly 300 children at Lincoln Elementary School, provided free tickets to Fighting Back Partnership (for disadvantaged and at risk youth) and will eventually offer free performances to nearly 100 seniors at the Casa de Vallejo Senior Residence Hotel. In addition, our strong partnership with local high schools provides work and theatre experience for more than 30 students per year in the areas of set design, theatre administration, stage craft, acting, singing and dancing. Many alumni, including David Leonard, Don Dungan, Wesley Mann and Kristy Juliano have gone on to professional careers in music, theater and television as a result of their VMT experience. Local businesses work with VMT to provide scholarships and free tickets ensuring that no child is turned away from programs based on their ability to pay. Over 300 active volunteers make up the core of all VMT programs. Our only paid staff include contracted artistic and design people recruited from among the industry’s top professionals in the Bay Area. Each year since 1987, VMT has been nominated for various categories in Solano County’s prestigious "Arty Awards". Competing against a professional opera company and college groups, VMT often takes home prizes for costume design, lighting design and in 1991 the coveted award for Best Show. Our high level of quality, expertise, and dedication to the quality of life in Vallejo has earned us the support of civic and business leaders who serve VMT as Board members, committee members, financial contributors, and even cast and crew. Since our inception, VMT has made its home at various venues throughout the city, each with its own set of inadequacies, and none with the visibility, space, or technical capacity to turn out the professional productions possible from a Company of our calibre. Our current home, at the Fetterly Playhouse for the Arts is located behind a strip mall not centrally located in the City. Though it has served us well over the past 4 years, it has a seating capacity of only 200, limited technical capacity for necessities such as lighting and sound, low ceiling, rudimentary heating and cooling, lack of backstage amenities and is used by other groups which creates relentless scheduling conflicts. VMT volunteer board members were driven to find a permanent home for their thriving theater company and for the past 5 years have spent countless hours seeking a suitable facility. Our quest ended in 2003, when VMT was the successful bidder on the purchase of the historic U. S. Post office (Federal Building) in the heart of downtown Vallejo’s historic district. Built in 1932, the building stands out as an architectural treasure in a downtown that is currently undergoing vast commercial and non-commercial redevelopment efforts. Superior construction, ample space, and high visibility make this grand building the perfect place to renovate into VMT’s permanent home. At purchase, Paul Roberts + Partners and Daniel Archer, Architect, conducted a comprehensive study confirming the architectural feasibility of renovating the building to suit our needs. Once renovated, the new building will house two theaters, a scene shop, retail and costume shops, storage, a full-height fly system, green rooms, dressing rooms, an orchestra pit, offices, box offices, and other amenities. Two separate stages will allow for simultaneous rehearsal and performance or use by multiple groups and, between the two, seat approximately 356 people. We have already been contacted by several community organizations such as the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, Harbor-Solano College Youth Conservatory and Vallejo Ballet Conservatory who will provide rental income to VMT in return for use of storage and theater spaces. Following the model of other major operating theaters, VMT will also host a basement costume rental business which will help defray expensive costume storage costs and allow us to retain some costume inventory between productions. Another compelling reason we chose the building is its location in the heart of downtown Vallejo’s historic district. Vallejo is one of the most diverse communities in the United States. The downtown area is made up of primarily low to moderate-income families, 47% of whom come from Latino, Asian (Primarily Philippine), or African American decent. VMT already benefits from the rich diversity of a cast, crew, and volunteer base, which is 20-50% minorities (depending upon the production). This project presents a unique opportunity for interaction among traditionally isolated groups like no other time in Vallejo’s history. The arts create a sense of community identity. Identity rallies hope, productivity, pride and economic vibrancy. We are excited about the role the new Vallejo Music Theatre will have in the lives of Vallejo’s youth, many of whom would never experience live theatre if not for our organization and dedicated volunteers. We will also work hard to position the arts as a vibrant catalyst for community revitalization. Downtown Vallejo is currently experiencing an artistic renaissance for the first time in many years. Along with our project other large scale projects such as the Empress Theater (to open in 2004) will create a new Arts and Entertainment District, bringing new patrons into the area, encouraging restaurants and shops to stay open longer, and increasing the ancillary dollars that go into Vallejo’s economy. Indeed, since our purchase, many buildings on the block have been beautified and updated in anticipation of our activities and the rejuvenation that will surely follow. Working in collaboration with our community leaders, VMT volunteers have been able to raise $100,000 from local businesses and individuals and $134,000 in unsecured loans towards the purchase of the building. We estimate the total project, including debt retirement and renovation, will run approximately $4.6 million. We have recently contracted with Bradley Associates Consultants; one of the countries’s leading capital campaign consulting firms, to conduct a Campaign Planning Study. In collaboration with a 15-member volunteer committee representing our community’s top business and civic leaders, the study counsel will conduct candid one on one interviews and focus groups to determine VMT’s position in the community, a recommended dollar amount for the campaign, a suggested time table, likely funders, and challenges we can anticipate once the campaign is underway. Vallejo Music Theatre | ||
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