Our guest speaker was Shelley Brown who is the President and CEO of the historic state Theatre. Opening in a renovated former bank building in 1926, the Theatre is the last of 49 named theatres in Easton. Shelley recalled her dismay in the aftermath of 9/11 when no tickets were being sold. That drought was nothing compared to the shutdown caused by COV1D 19. A federal grant designed for shuttered venue relief enabled the State to stay afloat. The Theatre was closed but the members, donors, and sponsors stayed.
Reopening has been difficult. Not everybody is ready to get back to normal. Tickets are selling, but not enough to be profitable. The worst part of the pandemic was losing our ability to be together. The entertainment is only part of the experience. The shared emotional experience gives the audience moments that soar. 2022 will see the return of the Freddy Awards. This high school version of the Tony Awards is easily the most popular event. Students from 27 high schools will participate in the live broadcast of the opening number. Each school selects four students to participate in the opener and they practice daily for over a week because it is so complicated. This will be the 20th anniversary edition of the Freddy Awards.