Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, June 7, 2016
(BLOOMFIELD) - Shawnee Theatre manager David Salmo detailed the Theatre’s plans for the coming season.
Patti Danner of the Greene County Daily World reports that Salmo, since taking over the theatre's management in 2014, has brought the historic theatre back to life during his two-year tenure, along with volunteer and paid staff members.
Last season the Shawnee Theatre earned a 40 percent increase in revenue from the previous year and Salmo hopes to see even more increases with this season.
He attributes the recent successes of Shawnee to a dedicated group of actors, volunteers, and connections made in Greene County with the Greene County Foundation, local businesses and schools.
"Cam Trampke (of the Greene County Foundation) and I have a daily discussion," he says. "They have really been wonderful in helping us make connections and make things happen. We have a strong focus on community interaction, and they are literally connected with the whole county."
At 25 years of age, Salmo has enjoyed several years in theater arts, stating that he wanted a career in theater production from an early age.
His career has been a natural progression, combined with dedication and hard work. He hails from St. Louis, Missouri.
He attended Virginia Tech University, and became the assistant to the executive producer at St Louis Municipal Theater. There, he worked and made connections with many regional theater enthusiasts. From these connections, he was informed of a position in Greene County in his chosen profession.
Previous Shawnee management left in 2014, leaving a vacancy that Salmo sought to fill.
Since arriving in 2014, Salmo has been able to balance the theater's budget, and has added several new programs and features to the Greene County stage.
"We want to pull people into Bloomfield, into Greene County," he said. "We do this by reaching out on social media, forming partnerships with other Greene County business and arts people, and offering an exciting season of shows combined with new programs for all ages, something for everyone."
He mentioned the "Summer Kids Camp" offered by Shawnee, two programs for kids ages 5-17. "The first one is an immersive theater course for kids, in which they learn all aspects of theater production from set design, lighting, casting and acting skills," he said.
The second two-week workshop will have the kids learning acting skills, culminating in a performance of "Fractured Fairy Tales."
The theater will also host a one-night showcase titled "Greene County's Got Talent," on July 1 at 7 p.m., featuring local talent and M.C. Bruce Borders as Elvis Presley, local judges and prizes awarded to the winners.
The Shawnee Theatre 2016 season opens on June 16 with "Chapter 2," a Neil Simon comedy running until June 19. Other performances are "Sweetest Swing in Baseball" June 23-26, "Pinocchio" July 7-10, "Skylight" July 14-17, "Gutenberg! the Musical!" July 21-24, and ends with "The Shawnee Theatre World Famous Melodrama," July 28-31.
Until June 15, Shawnee Theatre offers a flex pass option when purchasing tickets. Flex passes cost $90 per adult and $45 for children 12 and under. A flex pass is good for the whole season, and allows theater attendees admittance to all six plays of the season.
The Shawnee Theatre box office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the season, and show times are all at 8 p.m. excepting "Greene County's Got Talent," which will begin at 7 p.m.
To find out more about the Shawnee Theatre, visit them on social media, visitwww.shawneetheatre.org or call the box office at 812-384-3559.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.