October 2009

Dear Friend of the Auditorium:

I am writing this letter the morning after a fantastic performance by the BoDeans. Kurt and Sammy and their guitars, an accordion/piano player and a bass – and their music filled our “small and intimate” theatre. Sammy’s words are an interesting perspective from a performer who plays much larger venues.

The live performance scene in Door County has undergone dramatic changes in the past ten years. More venues – galleries, barns and parks – and status – for-profit, non-profit and free; there were over 700 live performance events in the county this season! Where do we fit? How can we succeed?

I went back to the beginning. Marian Hislop, Anne Emerson, George Larsen and Peter Trenchard joined me on our stage for a roundtable discussion about the birth of the auditorium. These four people had a dream with two basic criteria. The building had to be large enough to stage the Peninsula Music Festival and it had to be attached to Gibraltar School.

As I listened to the discussion, vague memories of that time came back to me. I did not realize the depth of the heartache and disappointment felt upon the initial defeat, nor the resolve it took to keep the dream alive. They started over, worked tirelessly and convinced a much larger group of people to join them and believe in the dream. The groundbreaking ceremony included the usual dignitaries, but most important to this group, it also included the Gibraltar students.

Next year, we will celebrate the 20th season of The Door Community Auditorium. We’ve been cleaning the attic, and found pictures and plans, posters and much memorabilia we intend to display in The Link Gallery. We want to tell the story. Sometimes, you have to look back before you can move forward; Terry Meyer will program the 20th Mainstage season.

We will emphasize the “community” in our name. You will see more local artists on our stage and school children in our seats. The “house” will host both world class talent and Door County talent – the original criteria for the dream. This board is committed to rekindling the fire that built this place. The challenges are not the same, but there are many, and they are just as fierce.

This year, I am again asking for your financial contribution. I am also inviting you to come to the auditorium this winter – for a lecture, a coffeehouse, Door County Idol or the High School Band Concert. The members of our board are proudly listed on this page; please tell us what you want, or if you have time or talent to volunteer.

Door County, this is your “small and intimate” theatre. Many thousands of individual donations built this building twenty years ago. The Door Community Auditorium is not a fancy name – it is who we are. Join us in the celebration and help us keep the dream alive.

Thank you,

Kaaren Northrop
President, DCA Board of Directors