Hi Bob,

On Thu 2038-May-20 04:52, Bob Ackley (1:300/3) wrote to Richard Webb:


 RW> Remind me someday to tell you about a
 RW> performing arts education center we were endeavoring to get
 RW> off the ground in an old barn which had been a variety of
 RW> other things over the years.  It took a good year or better
 RW> out of my life, and I was really disappointed when the
 RW> board decided to throw in the towel.

BA> Heh.  A couple of decades ago a bunch of amateur actors & friends
BA> converted an old barn into a theater.  Their productions were quite
BA> popular, even though the barn was located (just off Nebraska Highway
BA> 1) about five miles from the nearest town (which is Manley, followed
BA> by Weeping Water, the place is a good 50 miles south of Omaha -
BA> which IMO is not nearly far enough).  They called themselves the
BA> "Born in a Barn Players" and got fairly good reviews.  Note that all
BA> of the carpentry/ renovations and stage sets and everything else was
BA> done with volunteer labor and donated supplies and equipment.  After
BA> about ten years the farm was sold and the theater ceased operations
BA> a couple of years after that; the new owners didn't really cotton to
BA> all those visitors in their yard.  AFAIK it's back to being a barn
BA> now.

YEp, had heard of them.  Like that group we did renovations, building of a
stage, etc. with volunteer labor.  SOund
reinforcement system was provided by a local bandleader in
exchange for allowing his band practice space pretty much
whenever they wanted it.  Iirc it was one of the models its
founder used.

THe place had already been a commercial business
establishment of varying types over the years, a nightclub
when it first was converted from a barn, then a day care
center for kids, etc.

It was a fun year.  I'd donated my recording equipment and a lot of labor. 
I was lured into the project by our church
pastor with the carrot of a salary as administrator once
they got all the work done and were able to put their own
equipment in there.  To be quite honest, I was rather burned out from all
my years volunteering in the advocacy and
public education realm, and when it comes to audio
production and music my interests are strictly pecuniary.  I was serving on
the church board, Kathy my lady was working
as church secretary.  We were making bug out for NEw ORleans noises though
at the time, because our economic situation
wasn't that great in Iowa.  Pastor did a real good sell job
on me to get me involved in this one .

It lasted a good year.  I was just getting a grip on
cleaning out its loft, which would have provided more
rehearsal and workspace.  We'd built a decent stage
downstairs, had a fairly good audio control room built in
the former kitchen area of this place, some electrical
system renovations done.  FOr some labor I"d use folks who'd been
sentenced to community service hours as well.

By the time it was over I ended up rubbing against some of
the worst aspects of local politics, and organizational
politics as well.  Was sure a good idea.

Regards,
           Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+