Celebratory fundraiser takes place on October 22, one year after arson
SEATTLE – September 28, 2010 – One year after the arson that severely damaged—and threatened to destroy—Taproot Theatre Company’s Greenwood playhouse, the theatre hosts Taproot Uncorked, a fundraising event celebrating its extraordinary post-fire year and looking ahead to the future. On October 22, Taproot Theatre and Greenwood’s Vineyard Wine Shop team up at The Upper Crust’s Greenwood Square for a night of pairing heroic wines and Taproot’s heroic year.
Given the challenges, and ultimately victories, of the past year, the theme of heroic wines seemed appropriate. “By heroic wines, I mean wines which are victorious in their endeavor to survive all odds,” says Vineyard Wine Shop owner Patrick Anderson. “With each passing year the vine’s roots grow deeper and deeper into the soils, and with this comes the wisdom of age and experience.”
The fire in the early hours of October 23, 2009, destroyed the Eleanor Roosevelt Building—which Taproot leased to four businesses—and resulted in such extensive smoke and water damage to the theatre that Taproot was forced to shut its doors for three months and relocate performances. Having weathered multiple recessions in its nearly 35 years, Taproot’s leadership had learned to persevere through the ups and downs of time, but a fire was something no one ever thought would happen.
“It hit as a shock, but throughout that morning I just kept thinking, ‘We have to get through this. We have audiences to serve, a neighborhood we’re committed to,” said Taproot’s co-founder and producing artistic director, Scott Nolte. “The way the Greater Seattle arts community, the Greenwood-Phinney neighborhood, and so many other friends rallied around us gave me hope that we would get through this and come out even stronger than before.”
Taproot Theatre officially reopened its doors on January 29, 2010, for opening night of The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis’ allegory adapted by George Drance and New York’s Magis Theatre. The production played to sold-out houses and broke all attendance records in the theatre’s nearly-35-year history. In addition, the 2010 season went on to bring in Taproot’s highest number of subscribers ever.
The evening’s festivities run from 6 to 8 p.m. and include tasting and learning about heroic wines with wine expert Patrick Anderson, hearty hors d’oeuvres from The Upper Crust, plus time to visit with some of Taproot’s most deeply rooted artists who will be pouring the wines. Taproot Uncorked takes place at The Upper Crust Catering’s Greenwood Square, located at 8420 Greenwood Avenue North. Seating is limited, and early registration is encouraged. Tickets cost $45 and are available online at www.taprootuncorked.com.
Taproot Uncorked is made possible through generous partnerships with The Vineyard Wine Shop and The Upper Crust Catering.
ABOUT TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non-profit theatre company with a multi-faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce.
Support for Taproot Theatre’s 2010 Mainstage season is generously provided by The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, The Seattle Foundation, 4Culture, ArtsFund, PONCHO and Nesholm Family Foundation.
Showing posts with label City of Seattle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City of Seattle. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
"Awake to a New Aurora" Mural Unveiled on Tuesday
The mural unveiling was on Tuesday, March 23rd and if you missed it, don't worry, it is installed in the windows of a space (7615 Aurora Avenue) located next to DaVinci Pizza on Aurora and you can drive/walk by and check it out.
If you're not familiar with the project, here is a little background:
Sustainable Green Lake, Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors (GAIN) and the City of Seattle envision Aurora as a street full of thriving businesses and shoppers – one with a vibrant business center that attracts local residents to walk and bike to stores and restaurants for their weekly shopping and entertainment. To encourage this, a temporary installation of artwork is being placed in the windows of an empty storefront. Sustainable Green Lake received funding to do this mural from a grant through the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. GAIN provided some additional funding. The project is modeled after a similar and successful one done in the Columbia City neighborhood in the 1990s.
Pictured above from left to right: Artists Kevin Sullivan & John Osgood and Dawn Schellenberg, City of Seattle
(Not pictured, Artist Zach Bohnenkamp)
The artists commissioned for the project were Zach Bohnenkamp, John Osgood and Kevin Sullivan from Seattle Mural art, a local muralist team whose most recent work was installed next to Taproot Theatre after the arsons. Seattle Mural Art is an affiliate of Bherd Studios, an urban contemporary art gallery that features PNW artists and is located in Greenwood.
After the unveiling, friends and neighbors stayed around for pizza, refreshments and to take some photos of the new mural.
A second location on Aurora is currently being sought for Part II of this project.
Sustainable Green Lake is a group of like-minded individuals living in and around Seattle's Green Lake neighborhood who all share the common desire to constantly live more sustainably.
Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors (GAIN) is a group of neighbors working to enhance community and decrease crime in the Aurora corridor.
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