September 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RMRT PURCHASES PRIME GRAND LAKE LAND
Theatre Study Underway
Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre has purchased three lots at the corner of Grand Avenue and Vine, next to the bowling alley in Grand Lake, and is laying the groundwork to build a theater building. RMRT has enjoyed three consecutive years of sell-out performances in its current 192 seat venue at the Grand Lake Community House.
The purchase was made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor. Suzi Maki of ReMax, representing RMRT, and Donna Ready of Mountain Lake Properties, representing the Eslick heirs, donated their commissions for this transaction.
“I never dreamed that we would be this far in one short year,” said Ed Bittle, who in August of 2006 was appointed by then board president Merlin Dennis to head RMRT’s Facility Study Committee. In March, the RMRT Board of Trustees retained Semple Brown Design of Denver to prepare a site plan and preliminary design and cost estimate for the proposed theatre complex. It also retained Vicki Mattox of the Denver office of Stifel Nicolaus who prepared a financial plan for financing and operating a new facility.
The Committee investigated a number of potential sites in and around Grand Lake, however the Eslick property presented the best opportunity to fulfill RMRT's dreams.
RMRT recently retained Aspen International Consulting, a Denver-based fundraising and public relations firm, to investigate RMRT’s ability to raise the required funds and its long term ability to operate and maintain a new facility. RMRT will not begin fundraising until the study is completed and presented to the RMRT Board of Trustees.
Judy Jensen, RMRT Board of Trustees President stated, “Although so much has happened so quickly to bring us to this point, this board wants our patrons and friends to know that this has been and will continue to be a carefully calculated and deliberate process. We intend to get this right every single step of the way.”
The preliminary plan is to renovate and use the existing house and out buildings for office space, operations, set and costume production and storage. The architects have been requested to design a theater that maintains the “Grand Lake Rustic” look.
The old Eslick Motor Court, said to be the oldest in North America, sits on the newly purchased property, a reminder of Grand Lake times gone by. The theatre company and the representatives of the Grand Lake Historical Society have met to discuss possible restoration and use of this historic facility in the theater complex.
RMRT’s administrative and artistic team including Carol Wolff, Michael Querio, Chad Scott, Sally Scott and Jeff Duke are all involved in the planning for the new theater building. “It is our dream to produce a show in our own facility and we hope to see that dream come true,” said Chad Scott.
“The amazing progress and momentum RMRT is enjoying is a tribute to this staff. What we see on that stage doesn’t just happen magically. The year round effort put forth by this team has paid huge dividends and it is so heartening to know that each of them has joined with this board in its commitment to make this happen,” said board vice president Susan Brandt.