Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 30, 2020)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2020 | 7A shields in place. Everything until the future phases of re- And therein lies the chal- “Mamma Mia!” that’s coming down from the opening more clearly spell lenge.” “Personally, I feel total- state is all shared throughout out instructions. This could ly involved with the FEC,” the departments of the city.” ‘Yes, And:’ The importance Schmidt said. “When we first include limiting the number Even as some departments of tickets sold, emphasizing of improv for the theater got started, before we were the reopen and prepare to work the flexible flat-floor space Last Resort Players, we were with the public, the FEC for events and even adding a In March, LRP was pre- part of the Florence Festival stands alone. paring for “Based On A True of the Arts. It was theater and livestream component. “It’s yet to be seen, even in “We’re looking at options of Story” (BOATS), a series of art. … Our mission was to Phase 2, if we’re going to open doing performances in addi- monologues told by com- raise money for the building up,” Rhodes said. “Almost all tion to livestreaming. People munity members. In April, it of the FEC. Then, when it was of our events have been can- would have the choice to see planned to hold auditions for built, the FEC was our home.” celed for the entire month of the performance live, or pay “The Vagina Monologues,” Like with a majority of orga- June.” nizations, LRP members The FEC website, event- “The arts are never going to go away. It’s just com- are working from home. center.org, only features Board and committees one event on its homep- ing up with new and creative ways of continuing it, are meeting through tele- age: a magic show planned to where it can still be economically feasible. And conference and answering for September. chain emails rather than therein lies the challenge.” “Some of our later — FEC Director Kevin Rhodes meeting in person. While events are also resched- meeting logistics can be uling, since we really just figured out while socially don’t know what it’s going for a ticket to see the lives- which it planned to premiere distant, it makes planning a to look like with social dis- tream of it so they can stay at the FEC in June. show difficult. tancing for large gatherings,” at home if they’re at a higher Those were initially post- “The realities of social dis- Rhodes said. “We’re going to risk,” Rhodes said. poned, and then canceled. tancing may make it impossi- have a lag as far as rebuilding As plans have continued to ble to produce a show on the Some of the FEC has al- events.” ready “gone digital” as the FEC change, the large-scale mu- main stage this year,” Welling- When Oregon began prepa- Gallery Committee organized sical planned for November ton acknowledged. “We are rations for the COVID-19 a virtual “2020 Fresh Impres- shifted down to a smaller exploring options for the flat pandemic in early March, the sions Exhibition” at www. 12-person ensemble piece floor, if we can make cabaret FEC implemented a rigorous eventcenter.org/general/page/ and even further to a cham- seating compatible with social disinfecting regimen. The virtual-tour-fresh-impres- ber musical. But even that distancing.” FEC put its staff to work, in- sions-2020. may not be possible under He and other LRP board cluding its more than a dozen members are reviewing sever- “Right now, our art gallery COVID-19. part-time workers, and had a and art committee is doing “We have made many con- al scripts and looking at what plan in place. this as a virtual art display. tingency plans in order to be a staged musical would look “We had hired about 15- They’re keeping the arts go- able to respond to the widest like. Could they use the stage, 20 part-time employees to be ing, but not in a physical variety of scenarios,” Welling- record it, and show to an on- ready for the Rotary Auction sense,” Rhodes said. ton said. “This is an unprece- line audience? Could they later in March,” Rhodes said. It’s an adaptation he is see- dented challenge. We are up limit seating? “We had revamped the kitch- ing each week as he plays mu- against a moving target that For Schmidt, “There has en and prepped everything, sic for his church, which is us- we cannot see. It is difficult to be a critical mass. We need upgraded equipment, hired ing the Zoom teleconference to plan for a re-opening when the feedback from a live audi- staffing, had everything in app to stream services each you don’t know when that will ence.” place, got uniforms — and Sunday. Wellington agreed. “We be, or what it will look like. … then it all shut down. That was “I’m still playing every Our actors, musicians, crew have to roll with the punches unfortunate.” week, it’s just through my and audience must be con- and be flexible, but theater is He said there are liabilities office instead of in front of vinced that they can proceed person to person.” ahead for food and beverage a couple hundred people,” in complete comfort and safe- “That’s what makes it dif- staff, “so we want to err on Rhodes said. “It has its chal- ty.” ferent from the movies and the side of caution with that. lenges … but we’re still able He joined LRP founding TV,” Schmidt said. “You just … But we’re ready to go when to do it.” member and current presi- need to hear the laughter start back up.” He added that he has plans dent Annie Schmidt in talking and the gasps and know you As an events center, the FEC in place to purchase quality about LRP’s plans for the year. nailed it.” houses dozens of events each streaming technology for the They reminisced about past For the LRP board, the big- month and builds its annual FEC if it comes to it. shows, past actors and past gest unanswered question is, calendar around big events “Across the nation, we’re venues for theater and the arts “Are our patrons comfortable on the main stage. These in- all thinking outside the box in Florence. They also talked and ready to return to the clude spring and fall shows on how to continue the arts about their dream casts for theater for a live evening of for LRP, many of Florence’s and still make it profitable. future shows, or people they entertainment? And will the festival events, a musical with Right now, people are doing would love to hear in BOATS. virus cooperate?” “The whole theatrical ex- 40+ cast members each spring outdoor concerts or drive-in “The actors we have here for CROW and December’s theater concerts, but for the are phenomenal. Some of the perience for both the actors Holly Jolly Follies. All shows most part, because of social people we found just sort of and the audience is going to planned for April on have distancing, they’re doing it came out of the woodwork,” be radically changed,” Wel- been canceled or postponed. more to keep the arts going Schmidt said. “They just do lington said. LRP is not anxious to rush “Entertainment is going to than to break even,” Rhodes really spectacularly.” be different. It’s going to be said. “The arts are never going LRP is the community’s into performing before the the new normal,” Rhodes said. to go away. It’s just coming up theater group. It performs community is ready. In real- He talked about several with new and creative ways of a majority of its shows and ity, theater at its root is about options the center is consid- continuing it, to where it can events at the FEC each year, people. “How many people are ering, but won’t have answers still be economically feasible. including last November’s THEATER from page 1A the Friends of the FEC, Poi- son Pen Players and others. According to LRP Vice President Jim Wellington, “Florence loves its theater community, and has em- braced an ever-expanding va- riety of entertainment styles. We have mapped out a num- ber of strategies to ensure that when our audience is ready, we will be ready.” ‘Large gatherings is what we do’ The FEC’s 21,000 square foot facility was founded in 1996 to be a local center for performing arts, gallery shows, conferences, meetings, dances and whatever else a thriving coastal community could think to plan. Currently, its 455-seat the- ater, complete with orchestra pit, sits empty. “There was ‘Always Some- thing Happening’ at the FEC,” said Rhodes, quoting the motto of the FEC. “Now there is not.” He is currently the only events center staff member still working, as City of Flor- ence furloughed the remain- ing staff. “We’re the only non-essen- tial city department,” he add- ed. “Large gatherings is what we primarily do, so it is hard.” Rhodes is working from home, helping the city come up with plans for the eventual further reopening of western Lane County and the coast. “We will do what’s mandat- ed by the governor and the Centers for Disease Control, but we will probably err on the side of caution and be slow to opening,” he said. “Like right now, we’re closed. We’re not going to be doing meetings, even though it’s up to 25 peo- ple who can gather. We’re re- maining closed.” Meanwhile, the City of Florence is working toward reopening, working with de- partment heads to follow the strict guidelines in place for Phase One and planning for Phase Two. “We’re a team, so we’re sharing all the information,” Rhodes said. “It’s a little slower, just making sure that everything is covered as far of disinfecting, staying safe, social distancing and getting & shoppe play buy stay Support By Supporting ART ALLIANCE AUTOMOTIVE Hoberg’s Complete Auto Repair 345 Hwy. 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-2413 Petersen Auto Detailing Florence, Oregon, 97439 541-999-6078 CHAMBER CHARITABLE GIVING Salvation Army - Western Lane County PO Box 1041 Florence Or 97439 1-800-481-3280 CHURCH Cross Road Assembly of God 1380 10th St Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3533 Florence Church of Christ 1833 Tamarack St. Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3133 DENTURIST Denture Services 524 Laurel Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-6054 ESTATE SALES Cindy Wobbe Estate Sales 498 Hwy. 101 Florence OR 97439 541-999-0126 www.CindyWobbeEstates.com EVENT CENTER Florence Events Center 715 Quince Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-1994 FINANCIAL SERVICES Florence Area Chamber of Commerce 290 Hwy 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3128 www.florencechamber.com Editor’s Note: Next week, Siuslaw News will look at theater and COVID-19 from the perspective of children’s theater and arts group CROW. With programs ranging from summer camps to dance courses, this group is taking to social media to keep community theater and the arts active in Florence. Your Community Keep it local. Florence Regional Arts Alliance 120 Maple Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-999-0859 ready to come back, and un- der what conditions?” Wel- lington asked. While LRP does not have solid plans, it has begun plan- ning for small shows, mono- logues and other ways to keep blocking wide for actors on stage. “We are ready to go with two shows. We’ve got direc- tors for them,” Schmidt said. “Our shows are director driv- en. That passion is already there.” “Obviously, we do com- munity theater because we love it,” Wellington said. “We’re ready to love it again as soon as it is ready to love us back. … We might have to do the hard stuff, like try to do streaming. … There’s so much that we don’t know, that nobody knows, but we’re trying to do a lot of ‘what ifs.’ It’s about as much as we can do.” He later said, “If you ap- proach it right, it can be very exciting for the possibilities. But there’s just so much darn unknown right now.” Performing is about re- sponse. For actors, not only do they respond to direc- tions, lines and cues, they re- spond to the energy in a the- ater. Add in one of the core tenets of improv, “yes, and” — where an actor takes what they’re given and respond to it — and every performance is a new and magical experi- ence. The audience can’t see the same show twice. “Improv is best when you’re working with people,” Wellington said. “That is how we need to go into it, saying ‘Yes, and.’” “Or ‘yes, but,’” Schmidt countered. “We take what we’re given and deal with it. It’s certainly going to be inter- esting to see what happens.” If LRP has any say, what happens will continue to be entertaining, uplifting, emo- tional and an experience — as all theater should be. Edward Jones-Andy Baber, AAMS Financial Advisor 1010 Highway 101 541-997-8755 Oregon Pacific Bank 1355 Highway 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-7121 www.opbc.com FUNERAL CHAPEL Burns’s Riverside Chapel 2765 Kingwood St. Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3416 Dunes Memorial Chapel 2300 Frontage Road Reedsport, Oregon 97467 541-271-2822 GARBAGE & RECYCLING County Transfer & Recycling 5078 Coastwood Lane Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-8233 HEATING/SHEET METAL Florence Heating & Sheet Metal 1645 Kingwood St 541-997-2422 Local Businesses HUMANE SOCIETY Oregon Coast Humane Society 541-997-4277 Shelter 2840 Rhododendron Dr. Thrift Store 1193 Bay St. INSURANCE Abel Insurance Agency 875 Hwy 101 Florence, OR 97439 541-997-3466 www.abelinsuranceagency.com NEWSPAPERS Siuslaw News 148 Maple Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3441 www.thesiuslawnews.com PEST CONTROL Swanson’s Pest Management 1550 15th St #14 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-4027 PET GROOMING/BOARDING Aloha Pet Grooming 1751 12th Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-2726 REAL ESTATE Coldwell Banker Coast Real Estate Lynnette Wikstrom, Broker 100 Hwy 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-999-0786 West Coast Real Estate Services, Inc. 1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-SOLD (7653) www.shoppelocal.biz REC. VEHICLES SERV. & REPAIR Florence RV & Automotive Specialists 4390 Hwy 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-8287 www.FlorenceRV.com RESTAURANT 1285 Restobar 1285 Bay St, Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 902-8338 RETIREMENT LIVING The Shorewood 1451 Spruce St. Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 997-8202 shorewoodsl.com SEAFOOD Krab Kettle 270 Hwy 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-8996 SEPTIC SERVICE Wally’s Septic Tank Pumping Inc. 541-997-8885 TIRES Les Schwab Tire Center 4325 Highway 101 Florence, Oregon, 97439 (541) 997-7178 UPHOLSTERY Buds Upholstery 4981 Highway 101 Florence,Oregon 97439 541-997-4856