As a playwright who travels extensively around the country, I want to thank your great community for a wonderful eye-opening experience last weekend.
My visit was primarily to see the premier tryout of my new play, “Exit Laughing,” which was being produced by the Reunion Theatre Group under the direction of your own renowned Robert Henry. The play was an outstanding success and if you haven’t had the chance to see this marvelous cast in this production, I can promise they’ll knock you out of your seats in laughter. They brought the house down, and it’s that house I’d like to address.
Everett has a wonderful artist community struggling to survive in these hard times and they need everyone’s support and patronage. During my stay I visited several gallery showings by local artists and was amazed at the variety and scope of the artists. I only wish some of the artists had displayed in the lobby of the theater where “Exit Laughing” was being performed. That would have given them even more exposure to audiences that understand the value of creativity.
It seems to me with all the businesses closing and buildings vacated within your community, the city fathers might take a cue from Detroit, which has offered the artistic community entire buildings for a nominal fee just to come together and create a safe haven for the arts, at the same time revitalizing the downtown area. My play was performed in the Everett Symphony rehearsal hall, which I understand they are in danger of losing.
A community cannot grow without its artists. You’ve had one of the world’s best directors, Robert Henry, living in your city for years. He’s spent many of those years teaching your children to appreciate the excitement of art and creative expression. If even half of those students returned to pay tribute to this great man by attending the art shows, symphonies and plays performed in a unified complex of artists, Everett would become the center for tourists and neighboring communities it deserves to be.
You are surrounded by some of this country’s most beautiful scenery. Isn’t it time you recognized the beauty of the artists within your community as well? Again, thank you for a wonderful week and I hope to return many more times in the future.
Paul Elliott
Los Angeles
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