Vallejo Music Theatre Talking Points On Buying The Federal Building

Since its very beginnings Vallejo Music Theatre has been successful in taking on new projects and developing them successfully:

A.) Theater development on the Solano County Fairgrounds, 1984-1986. At the encouragement of Marjorie Hamilton, representative of Rio Vista, Vallejo Music Theatre and the Vallejo Youth Conservatory were invited to form a theater company on the Fairgrounds which would encompass musical theater, a youth program, dinner theater and plays. The project assumed the name SolArts and a staff of five, employed by the Fairgrounds produced several musicals, children’s training programs and plays over a two year period. Upon the death of Mrs. Hamilton, the Board of Directors of the Fairgrounds voted to discontinue the theater program and Vallejo Music Theatre returned to its roots at Hogan High School.

B.) Dinner Theatre at City Lights Cafe. Starting around 1991 the Company installed adequate electrical circuits in the old PG&E building on Virginia Street so that a theater lighting system could be installed and used for any purpose. (Phoenix Players produced several productions on the site as well as Vallejo Music Theatre.) The Company successfully produced dinner theater there in the winters until 1994, when they moved their performances to Indian Alley Theater (continued to use City Lights as the caterer). Dinner Theater is now held at Fetterly Playhouse for the Arts; however City Lights continues to be a possible venue for Dinner Theater for the winter shows.

C.) In 1999, upon closure of Hogan Auditorium for repairs, the Company was invited to use the "theater" at the Fetterly Playhouse for the Arts. Starting from scratch and an empty warehouse, the Company has built out the theater which now exists there. In 2001 the Company became the Resident Theater Company at the Fetterly. The Company continues to improve the theater space and other groups now use it on a continuing basis (Darkroom Productions, Traveling Lantern Theater and others).

Why does Vallejo Music Theatre need to develop its own theater spaces?

A.) The Company is outgrowing the spaces at the Fetterly Playhouse and competition for rehearsal and performance time is growing from other local groups, which indicates a real need for more performance venues in Vallejo. The footprint of the Fetterly is not large enough to accommodate more than two theater companies using the same space at the same time; however, some times as many as four groups at one time have occupied the building for rehearsals and meetings. If a second venue were available next door for development into rehearsal spaces and full service scene shop, it would take away some of the need for the Company moving to its own quarters. However, with strong rumors that the Playhouse may not even be there in the next two to three years, now is the time to start the process of developing a second or replacement theater for community use.

B.) Audience space at the Fetterly is limited to around 200 (and that’s very crowded). With a theater seating capacity of 300 in a new venue the Company, as well as other groups, will be able to accommodate more audience in a high quality environment. Development of a second smaller theater in the same building also allows for more than one group at a time to have performances or rehearsals on the same night. It is anticipated that a small rehearsal could be ongoing in the small box theater while a performance is on the main stage. We recommend that if anyone is interested, that you visit the Harbor Theater in Suisun or the Marin Theater in Mill Valley, each of which has two stages and functions very efficiently with more than one production going at the same time.

C.) After alerting the community to the Company’s work to obtain and then develop the old Federal Building on Marin Street, several local performing arts companies have called to ask if they will be able to use the theater once it is built out. That is very encouraging to the Company as it is one of their goals to make sure this facility is available for community use for performing arts.

How does anyone know we’ll do what we say we’ll do?

Vallejo Music Theatre’s past record speaks for itself. When the Company is handed a challenge it works diligently to make it a success. The only set-back was at the hands of others (Solano County Fair Board). The fact that the Company has worked continuously since 1967 indicates that it has the perseverance and sticktuivity to see any project through to fruition.

The Company is hiring a full-time fundraiser to raise money to first, pay for the mortgage on the building and second, to raise the funds to install the theaters in the space. The project could take up to five years to complete. The more successful the Company is with fundraising, and the more local support it receives, the sooner the project will be completed.

The Company believes that the best place for new performing arts spaces is Downtown Vallejo. Bringing 300 people to the Downtown per evening/afternoon on the weekends will encourage restaurants to remain open, shops to offer specials for theater-goers and increase the ancillary dollars that will go into Vallejo’s economy. After school children’s programs will also bring large groups to the Downtown area.

Arts and entertainment have consistently been at the core of revitalization efforts in many cities across the United States (see video on Adams, MA development of the Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art).

Why do we need the City’s support; why does the City need Vallejo Music Theatre?

A.) Revitalization of Downtown (ie: Lesher support of the theater in Walnut Creek has greatly enhanced their downtown; Mass MOMA, Adams, MA saved the city).

B.) Improves quality of life and enhances attractive area in historic district.

C.) Encourages interaction and participation of the diverse cultural groups in Vallejo. Area surrounding the Federal Building is 48% minority, low to middle income and average age of homes is 80+ years. Programs in the proposed theater would provide an opportunity for participation in the arts by minority children living in the neighborhood.

D.) The Company needs the City’s support to make the project happen. The City’s support does not necessarily need to be financial, but rather through a Resolution of Support and waiver of fees and taxes.

E.) The project is not divisive; instead this type of project brings people together in an environment of working as a team toward a common goal.

F.) With the project in the hands of a non-profit Public Benefit Corporation there are sources of funding available which are not available to private companies or city governments.

G.) Management of the final product by the non-profit will allow better control of costs and lower use costs for small performing arts group (investigation of the Fairfield Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, shows that it has nearly priced the local performing arts groups out of its use).