CORRECTION PLEASE
Like many people, I was curious and excited to read about how the Colligan Theatre was getting back into circulation. However, once I got to the last couple of paragraphs of “Stage of Dreams,” I was infuriated.
Lindsey Chester says, “We basically had two and a half weeks to get in to learn the whole system. Not everything (in the theatre) was labeled, not everything was wired correctly. The space was not cleaned.”
Having been on the staff of Jewel Theatre Company, prior to All About Theatre taking over, I know this to be a complete fabrication. I am sure that she did not mean for this to come out as I have taken it, but I feel that I need to set this straight. I understand embellishing things to make a more dramatic statement, but this was basically a slap in the face to the Jewel Theatre Company.
Jewel was done producing shows in June, yet the staff continued to stay in the space—organizing, painting, cleaning, and clearing things out—until October. Lindsey was invited to come in for the entirety of those five months to ask questions, check out the space, and bring in her crew to pick our brains. She showed up twice.
Our company, as well, had to learn about the system and the building on our own—nothing was labeled for us either.
And I can attest that the theatre was left in perfect condition. Julie James (artistic director of JTC) was LITERALLY on her hands and knees, with cleaning materials, late into countless evenings, scrubbing those floors. She alone would climb the 12-foot ladder to reach spots on the wall that needed touch-up paint—after taking paint chips to Sherwin-Williams to get an exact match. She didn’t want to use the original paint left to us, because she felt it might be too old to blend in after 10 years. She did not want to leave a mess or extra work for anyone.
I have worked for Julie for 20 years, and I can honestly say that she is THE best boss I have ever had. I will follow her anywhere. She is fair, caring, gracious, diplomatic, thoughtful and compassionate—to everyone.
This quote of Lindsey’s comes off as if Julie and the staff of Jewel didn’t care a bit about the theatre or the next company; as if we just walked out the door, leaving chaos behind us.
Again, I am sure this was not the intention, but the fact that it came off that way to me makes me think that there might be others who could come up with the same interpretation. I am not here to sling mud about—only to stand up against a thoughtless remark.
Shaun Carroll
IMMIGRANTS NEEDED
Landscaping would not exist as we know it, if there was a mass deportation. We’d lose most of the capable on-the-ground folks who make landscapes beautiful in this region. It is mostly Latino people who do this work, and do it beautifully, in our area. If landscaping services seem expensive now, just imagine if our fastest, most skilled, strongest and productive workers left. It would be tragic for both contractors and clients.
Another thing is that many of the Mexicans here in the U.S. are from native tribes that are on both sides of the border, or farther south. Many or most Mexicans who live in this area have significant indigenous heritage. Ergo, many or most are first peoples. Which adds another moral twist.
Jillian | Terra Nova
