Q: What first attracted you to Northern Stage?
A: Eric Bunge and Carol Dunne, who were people I encountered when I first attended programs at Northern Stage, got my attention with their creative yet practical approach to live theater in White River Junction. I came to the Upper Valley in 1971 and wonder how many others remember the lovely but ultimately fragile River City Arts and White River Theater Festival, précurseurs to Northern Stage. Both of those organizations had their hearts in the right place and, while creativity is essential, the creativity won’t last if there is no stability and practical organization to shore up the everyday nitty gritty of theater. The bills have to be paid and programs need the capacity to grow. Early on, I sensed that Northern Stage had the potential to last.
Q: What motivates you to stay involved with Northern Stage?
A: I expect an arts organization to be clever, creative, and offer new and innovative theater experiences. I joyfully get those in spades every time I go to Northern Stage. How many times have I heard, “I saw that show on Broadway and Northern Stage did a better job”! However it does not matter how creative you are if you don’t have a successful business plan and financial wherewithal to sustain a theater company. People like Carol Dunne and Jason Smoller, and a growing staff, give me that feeling of permanence which is needed for Legacy Giving.
Q: What inspired you to include Northern Stage in your Legacy Giving?
A: If there is any part for me to play in helping to sustain an exceptional local theater company that I have enjoyed mightily over the years, why not do it? For me, live theater is essential to a feeling of community, and Dave Briggs, with his support via the Briggs Opera House, and the aforementioned theater groups have prepared the way for Northern Stage to solidify the arts scene in White River Junction. I think the arts, in all senses of that word, are foundational to the restoration and advancement of the area, and Northern Stage has become a key player in that revitalization. Long may the arts flourish in White River Junction!