Stages remain dark for community theater

“Annie” is waiting in the wings.

Last spring Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre had just announced the cast for its summer 2020 production of the popular musical when the dancing shoes were stopped cold in their tracks.

“We were also finishing up rehearsals for ‘Damn Yankees,’ which was going to open at the Firehouse Arts Center in April,” recalled production manager Kathleen Breedveld. “We had already choreographed and blocked the entire show, and were going into the staging aspects, when the theaters shut down March 15.”

The theater group already had paid royalties for “Annie,” to be performed at the Bankhead Theater, as well as other shows on the horizon. Breedveld went into overdrive to get refunds and was successful except for “Annie,” which she then postponed a year.

“But it does not look like it is going to open in 2021,” she said.

When theaters reopen, at first they will probably use fewer seats, she explained.

“With such staggered seating, we couldn’t possibly afford to produce it,” she said. “It wouldn’t cover the royalties let alone the sets.”

Now Breedveld is aiming for 2022 but feels that is not a guarantee due to the financial situation with cities and theaters.

“They aren’t even giving any date for Broadway for 2021 yet,” she said.

Lindsay Pearce, a former star with Tri-Valley Rep had just landed the lead role of Elphaba in “Wicked” on Broadway when it shut down, she noted.

Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre, a nonprofit corporation, began as Pleasanton Playhouse in 1984. For many years it had a black box theater on Serpentine Lane in Pleasanton; its last production there was “Shout” in 2012.

The troupe lost its lease on that venue eight years ago and moved to another site on Serpentine with three offices and a dance room.

“But unfortunately we can’t use it now, we are not allowed in,” Breedveld said. “We are paying full rent on a place we can’t use.”

“We are so fortunate that we have had Robert and Marilyn Weiss who have been donating the cost of the rental,” she added. “We would not be here without large donations from them and also donations from season patrons, who have been sticking with us.”

The community theater group has grown to producing musicals several times each year. It also holds children’s summer camps and a Broadway Chorus in the spring at Valley Community Church.

Breedveld became involved with Pleasanton Playhouse years ago when her son took part in its productions. Then in 1997 she became production manager, a volunteer position, and in 2008 was offered the paid positions of artistic director and company manager.

These days she keeps busy writing grants.

“I just jump on any opportunity I can, but right now there is not a lot of money out there,” she said.

Donations can be made on the website, www.trivalleyrep.org, or by mailing to Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre, P.O. Box 1445, Pleasanton 94566. Contact Breedveld at kbreedveld@trivalleyrep.com.

She looks forward to producing “Annie” in 2022 after the two-year hiatus, although it will look different than originally planned. Two of the leads have moved out of state, and the orphans will be two years older.

“Damn Yankees” would have to be a whole new show, she said, because sets designed especially for the Firehouse Theater stage are no longer intact.

“We’d already done the rehearsal, and it was an outstanding show,” she said.

Breedveld raved about the facilities at the Firehouse Arts Center and the Bankhead Theater, where they perform according to the size of each production, and she noted the venues have excellent staffs.

“Both of those spaces are just fantastic — it’s an idyllic situation,” she said. “And the generosity of the city of Pleasanton should never go unnoticed.”

“‘Les Miserables,’ ‘Mary Poppins,’ ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ were the biggest sellers we had at the Bankhead,” she said. “The biggest at the Firehouse was ‘Guys and Dolls.'”

Tri-Valley Rep was drawing 12,000 people annually, but now the future holds uncertainty.

“Last I heard, a lot of the companies that rent large sets have gone bankrupt,” Breedveld said.

She is also anxious about repercussions from California Assembly Bill 5, which extended employee classification status to some gig workers.

“We have always paid actors a gas stipend, but now we are not allowed to give anyone money. All designers, directors and operators and crew members are included in the equation,” she explained, which would mean benefits. “The tax implications are disastrous for all non-professional theater companies as we go back into performing.”

After 39 years of operation, she fears the theater company may close due to COVID-19 and state legislation, she said.

But she said she continues to plan for future productions, adding, “I thrive on stress.”

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