Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Vandalism

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Linda S
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Joined: 4/16/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 312

Topic: Vandalism
Posted: 11/27/07 at 10:29am

Our little theater that bare eeks out an existance was vandalized over the Thanksgiving weekend. Almost all of the windows were broken. 8 fire extinguishers were set off. Cans of black paint were thrown over the set and the seats. Two sofas were set on fire. The set for the upcoming show was extensively damaged. On top of that the light board, sound board and follow spot were thrown out of the booth to the floor ten feet below. It was just heart breaking. We hardly knew where to start.

Then the people showed up. They came with mops and shop vacs and power tools and in a matter of hours the place was starting to look like a theater instead of a bomb site. There were people helping who I had never seen before: the boy scout troop, neighbors, friends of friends and people from the community who before had only come to see shows. Every community theater in the southern part of the state area has offered assistance of every kind. Through shear determination it looks like the christmas musical will open on Thursday.

There has been real community support for the theater for the last couple of days. The good news is the tickets are selling like hot cakes!

Linda

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pdavis69
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Joined: 3/26/06
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Posts: 437

Posted: 11/27/07 at 11:23am

Linda I am so sorry to hear about the damage done to your theatre. It's not even my theatre and the story has left me with wet eyes. After our recent losses due to flooding I understand what a stab to the heart this is to see "our house" hurt. I am glad that you are part of a community that cares and is willing to help. You shall be in our prayers.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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MartyW
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Joined: 2/02/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 555

Posted: 11/27/07 at 11:29am

Linda, what is the name of your theater and where are you at?

I tell ya, It makes my heart ache... As Patrick said, it was bad when nature took so much away from us this year, but to have people do something like that on purpose?.... You would wish this on no one at no time.. But, dosn't it make you feel grand that people come out of the woodwork to help?

As we go into our hell week for Little shop, the flood damage is nearly all repaired (hopefully there will be a full set of toilets in by tonight). By the time the show closes we will have a full 19 weeks invested in the show and the flood repairs.

As tragic as it was and as much as I cried when I first saw the devistation, I can truly say after all the work to come back, that it has shown me a lot about our community and our theater.

There are people in our theater that have given every spare hour they could to the work.. and there are those who I haven't even seen since the August 21st when the flood waters filled our building... But at least, now, I know who to count on...

There have been many examples of kindness from our community as well.. A lot of people asking what we need, making donations etc. Just last night, some men from the Elks Club came by our rehearsal and told us that they were donating 100 tickets to thier New Years party as a potential fund raiser toward our recovery.

The loss of building use has been hard.. the loss of phisical plant assets have tested our metal and our bladers... the loss of furniure, appliances etc has been cost us. But, as we mentioned before, we (by a fluke of timing on another project) saved all of our important pictures and documents. In many ways I see a blessing.. and I thank God and all of those who have stepped in to help us.

Linda, our thoughts and prayers are with you and please, don't be afraid to let folks here know if there is stuff you need.. One of us might have it in our surplus...

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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MartyW
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Joined: 2/02/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 555

Posted: 11/27/07 at 11:57am

Linda, Patrick found some news articles on your theater... I live in Ohio now, but as a boy in New England, I spent many wonderful days on Sebago Lake....

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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jayzehr
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Joined: 8/11/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 537

Posted: 11/27/07 at 1:57pm

Wrecking the set of a Christmas show? Somebody's got some karmic issues to deal with. It's hard to imagine a bright side, but the first thought that came to my mind was that at least they didn't burn your theater down. Hope everything works out for you!

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Linda S
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Joined: 4/16/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 312

Posted: 11/27/07 at 4:04pm

Thanks Patrick, Marty and Jayzher. We are in Standish, Maine right at the end of Sebago Lake. The theater is a wonderful old schoolhouse tucked in among the trees off the street. Beautiful, but unfortunately no one can see the theater from the street. The vandals had to have been in the building for a long time to do the damage they did. They must have felt very safe that far off the road. As of this morning "Little Women" is still set to open on Thursday. The building is a little rough, but the set is pretty much back together.

Linda

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acmeactor
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Joined: 2/25/04
Location: United States
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Posted: 11/27/07 at 4:10pm

Linda is there anything we can do to help? A fund for donations to help with the equipment damaged, or anything?

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Linda S
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Joined: 4/16/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 312

Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:18pm

Thanks for the offer. That is so generous. Right now the board is trying to sift through what is going to be covered by insurance and what isn't. Right now it appears that all the equipment will be covered by insurance and the rest with elbow grease. . . Just heard that the local flooring guy stopped by and is going to repair the hardwood floors that were covered with paint.

Linda

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Aimee
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Joined: 8/31/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 156

Posted: 11/27/07 at 9:26pm

My heart just dropped as I read on. I know how angry I get when we have small acts of vandalism from non theater students. I can hardly believe someone would intentionally destroy so much.

On the plus side you have a wonderful community right there to help you out when you need it most. Best of luck on your show. Be sure to let us know how it goes!

Aimee

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Nanette
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Joined: 8/01/06
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Posts: 399

Posted: 11/27/07 at 10:02pm

My heart goes out to you and your theatre.

I've never been able to comprehended why people distroy things ... of what purpose is it?! It's bad enough when nature does it to us, but for another human being to do it ...

Please let us know what you might need. We don't have much, but would be willing to share what we have.

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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Author	Message
Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Topic: Vandalism Posted: 11/27/07 at 10:29am
	Our little theater that bare eeks out an existance was vandalized over the Thanksgiving weekend. Almost all of the windows were broken. 8 fire extinguishers were set off. Cans of black paint were thrown over the set and the seats. Two sofas were set on fire. The set for the upcoming show was extensively damaged. On top of that the light board, sound board and follow spot were thrown out of the booth to the floor ten feet below. It was just heart breaking. We hardly knew where to start. Then the people showed up. They came with mops and shop vacs and power tools and in a matter of hours the place was starting to look like a theater instead of a bomb site. There were people helping who I had never seen before: the boy scout troop, neighbors, friends of friends and people from the community who before had only come to see shows. Every community theater in the southern part of the state area has offered assistance of every kind. Through shear determination it looks like the christmas musical will open on Thursday. There has been real community support for the theater for the last couple of days. The good news is the tickets are selling like hot cakes! Linda

	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 11/27/07 at 11:23am
	Linda I am so sorry to hear about the damage done to your theatre. It's not even my theatre and the story has left me with wet eyes. After our recent losses due to flooding I understand what a stab to the heart this is to see "our house" hurt. I am glad that you are part of a community that cares and is willing to help. You shall be in our prayers.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 11/27/07 at 11:29am
	Linda, what is the name of your theater and where are you at? I tell ya, It makes my heart ache... As Patrick said, it was bad when nature took so much away from us this year, but to have people do something like that on purpose?.... You would wish this on no one at no time.. But, dosn't it make you feel grand that people come out of the woodwork to help? As we go into our hell week for Little shop, the flood damage is nearly all repaired (hopefully there will be a full set of toilets in by tonight). By the time the show closes we will have a full 19 weeks invested in the show and the flood repairs. As tragic as it was and as much as I cried when I first saw the devistation, I can truly say after all the work to come back, that it has shown me a lot about our community and our theater. There are people in our theater that have given every spare hour they could to the work.. and there are those who I haven't even seen since the August 21st when the flood waters filled our building... But at least, now, I know who to count on... There have been many examples of kindness from our community as well.. A lot of people asking what we need, making donations etc. Just last night, some men from the Elks Club came by our rehearsal and told us that they were donating 100 tickets to thier New Years party as a potential fund raiser toward our recovery. The loss of building use has been hard.. the loss of phisical plant assets have tested our metal and our bladers... the loss of furniure, appliances etc has been cost us. But, as we mentioned before, we (by a fluke of timing on another project) saved all of our important pictures and documents. In many ways I see a blessing.. and I thank God and all of those who have stepped in to help us. Linda, our thoughts and prayers are with you and please, don't be afraid to let folks here know if there is stuff you need.. One of us might have it in our surplus...
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 11/27/07 at 11:57am
	Linda, Patrick found some news articles on your theater... I live in Ohio now, but as a boy in New England, I spent many wonderful days on Sebago Lake....
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 11/27/07 at 1:57pm
	Wrecking the set of a Christmas show? Somebody's got some karmic issues to deal with. It's hard to imagine a bright side, but the first thought that came to my mind was that at least they didn't burn your theater down. Hope everything works out for you!
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 11/27/07 at 4:04pm
	Thanks Patrick, Marty and Jayzher. We are in Standish, Maine right at the end of Sebago Lake. The theater is a wonderful old schoolhouse tucked in among the trees off the street. Beautiful, but unfortunately no one can see the theater from the street. The vandals had to have been in the building for a long time to do the damage they did. They must have felt very safe that far off the road. As of this morning "Little Women" is still set to open on Thursday. The building is a little rough, but the set is pretty much back together. Linda
	IP Logged

acmeactor Player Joined: 2/25/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 11/27/07 at 4:10pm
	Linda is there anything we can do to help? A fund for donations to help with the equipment damaged, or anything?
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:18pm
	Thanks for the offer. That is so generous. Right now the board is trying to sift through what is going to be covered by insurance and what isn't. Right now it appears that all the equipment will be covered by insurance and the rest with elbow grease. . . Just heard that the local flooring guy stopped by and is going to repair the hardwood floors that were covered with paint. Linda
	IP Logged

Aimee Celebrity Joined: 8/31/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 11/27/07 at 9:26pm
	My heart just dropped as I read on. I know how angry I get when we have small acts of vandalism from non theater students. I can hardly believe someone would intentionally destroy so much. On the plus side you have a wonderful community right there to help you out when you need it most. Best of luck on your show. Be sure to let us know how it goes!
	Aimee
	IP Logged

Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 11/27/07 at 10:02pm
	My heart goes out to you and your theatre. I've never been able to comprehended why people distroy things ... of what purpose is it?! It's bad enough when nature does it to us, but for another human being to do it ... Please let us know what you might need. We don't have much, but would be willing to share what we have.
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

Topic: Vandalism( Topic Closed)
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