MARYSVILLE — Beckye Randall and her family are all in.
Their goal as members of the Red Curtain Foundation is to make sure north Snohomish County has a center for arts education, cultural exchange, concerts and community theater.
After years of fits and starts (and a temporary home in the old Dunn Lumber building), it’s really happening this time. The foundation has been busy with fundraising, grant writing, planning, design and construction.
“It’s a huge project, worth about $130,000,” Randall said.
Red Curtain’s new home is in a commercial space at the back of the Goodwill shopping area on State Avenue. Once you find it, you’re sure to return.
Take a look at the new venue and the plans for its completion on Saturday evening at the foundation’s auction fundraiser — Denim &Diamonds.
The arts center features a big lobby, the primary theater space and green rooms, and areas for classes, rehearsals, storage and parties.
The theater, with its 50-foot-wide stage, will seat about 130 people.
Red Curtain has a full season of theater planned.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” is the season opener. Directed by David Bailey, the production plays at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays from Oct. 21 through Nov. 6.
For Christmas, Marysville Pilchuck High School graduate Nick Poling and his friend Alex De Roest have written a crazy show titled “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” loosely based on the 1964 B science fiction film of the same name. The show runs Dec. 2 through 18.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” plays Jan. 27 to Feb. 12, “You Can’t Take It With You” is scheduled for March 24 to April 9 and “Noises Off” closes the season May 19 through June 4. Also planned is a middle school and high school student play during spring quarter.
Among the classes offered this quarter are acting classes for all ages.
Because final construction is ongoing, an American Red Cross fundraiser concert — “Country Girls Sing the Blues” by Marcia Kester, Bev Cloe and Britta Grass — has been moved from Oct. 8 to Nov. 19 at the arts center.
“When people see the center on Saturday for Denim &Diamonds, we hope they will be moved to donate to the capital campaign,” Randall said. “We are so close to finishing, but we’re still $40,000 short. The effort by our volunteers, coupled with the in-kind donations and discounts from local businesses, has been amazing.”
Randall praised volunteer coordinator Katherine Anderson for getting people lined up to help with construction, play production and more.
Randall also had high praise for her husband, Werner “Randy” Randall, who has been working construction 12 hours a day, seven days a week to get the art center open. Their son, Scott Randall, who is teaching, going to school and directing a play at Everett Community College this quarter, is there as much as possible.
“And the city building department has been great,” Beckye Randall said. “I think the city and the community realize that the art center will benefit everyone.”
If you go
The Red Curtain Foundation’s auction and dinner fundraiser Denim &Diamonds starts at 6 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Red Curtain Art Center, 9215 State Ave., Suite J, behind the EvCC cosmetology school and Goodwill. The evening includes catered barbecue, beer and wine, games, prizes, silent and live auctions and more. Tickets are $45 each. Preview the auction items at www.auctria.com/auction/redcurtain.
For more information about the Red Curtain’s theater season, classes and Neighbors Night with members of the Tulalip Tribes’ Lushootseed language staff on Oct. 7, go to www.redcurtainfoundation.org.
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