What do you get when you have visionary folks with a passion? In the Pequot Lakes School District a small group of community members grew their vision for a theatre into a reality.
The Pequot Lakes High School theatre opened around 1979. The community group continued to support performing arts based programs beginning with a local community theatre that offered one show per year.
In 1983, the Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts (GLAPA) organization was formed. GLAPA has a season of shows to offer the community each year. Its six show season combines four contracted professional performances with two local Pequot Lakes Community Theatre (PLCT) productions.
Season patrons make up about one third of the audience at each show. Individual tickets are available for each show, as well.
The GLAPA/PLCT programs operate through Pequot Lakes Community Education. Each program has a community-based board. The GLAPA board president is Nancy Waller. PLCT production board chair is Michael Sander. Participation on either board is open to community members who would like to support the work of GLAPA or PLCT.
Financial support for the GLAPA programs comes from many local donors. These arts patrons are listed in each show program booklet given to the audience at each performance. Contributions come from individuals, businesses and organizations.
If you would like to know more about becoming a patron of the arts give us a call at (218) 568-9200.
There are area businesses who have made in-kind contributions that support the GLAPA/PLCT mission, too. The Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts mission statement is: To provide high quality, affordable arts programming for the greater Brainerd lakes area.
GLAPA has made improvements to the Pequot Lakes High School theatre over the 26 years of existence. Specific projects are new stage curtains, improved lighting on the stage, upgraded sound system, purchase of microphones for use on stage and contributing toward the new carpet installation.
GLAPA/PLCT have partnered with an area printer to print posters, advertisements and the program booklets. This partnership has improved the audience experience while attending performances. The GLAPA/PLCT programs have a shared Web site at www.glapa.info.
From its origins in 1983, this visionary group has made it possible for more than 50 community theatre shows to take place on the Pequot Lakes High School stage. The community theatre shows have involved over 775 people either onstage as an actor/actress or backstage as a part of the technical crew. New cast and crew members are welcome to share their time and talents on future productions.
There are three shows to come in this GLAPA season. They are "Peter Pan," a community theatre production with performances March 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14; the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet on March 20; and Prudence Johnson and Dan Chinouard's presentation of Minnesota's Greatest Generation in a celebration of stories, photos and songs on April 10.
Come join the fun of having high quality performing arts for audiences of all ages right here in Pequot Lakes. It's time now for you to get into the act - whether you are on stage, back stage, out in the audience or behind the scenes as a patron. GLAPA and PLCT have a seat reserved for you.
(Julie Despot is Pequot Lakes Community Education director.)
