My name is Bob Hastings, and if my 76+ stage appearances have made you smile, I’m glad…but this isn’t about me. I’m 86 years old and over-the-theatre-hill. But what I have to say should…and might be of considerable importance to the Bowling Green area…singing, acting and dancing talent, community band, and theatre fans in all of Wood County.
The Black Swamp Players announced recently to suspend operations for a lack of persons to produce, direct and particularly build, paint and design the sets…and fulfill back stage duties.. A more recent BSP meeting produced glimmers of hope in rescinding that suspension and announcing at least a partial season of shows for 2018/19.
In my 36 years with the Players I have done it all…many times. Act, direct, board member, president, set designer/builder, paint, etc., etc. PLEASE…I am begging the Bowling Green Community to not allow this organization, celebrating their 50th year, to close its doors for even one year. We have produced our shows on as many as 11 local stages including 10 years at the Mall and 13 at the First United Methodist Church. I retired in 2014, my health and stamina no longer allowing me to be active. I’m retired, but it seems to me that the public and current actors and directors owe it to living charter members, Jim and Lee Forse…and hundreds of past actors, directors and workers, to keep the theatre lights burning for another 50 years.
So, if there are those reading this letter, able and interested in working on or behind the stage…or those who would be interested in helping to build sets, or those willing to serve on our board to help make critical decisions about our organization…I beg of you to step up now and call our president, Lane Hakel! I do not have Lane’s permission to print his contact information…but you can reach me…by email at bobhastings@woh.rr.com, I’ll see that it gets to Lane and the board.
However, if we are to continue beyond 2018/19, we may have another teeny tiny problem. It is possible we will need a new venue as the church’s availability diminishes due to scheduling of church activities. If it happens…BSP is resilient, we’ll find a way to put our shows on a stage, but if anyone out there will give, or reasonably rent, us a permanent venue, it is time for you to step up and help us…NOW!
Speaking of venues, I would guess that many of you did not know that the water tower in Carter Park was altered when it was built to be a venue for community theatre and band, as well for overflow council meetings. In the early 80’s, President Jim Forse and I were asked to attend a special meeting of City Council to gauge BSP’s interest in a possible theatre that could be housed in one of two new water towers being built at Carter Park and Sand Ridge Road. This possibility was being spearheaded by then City Manager, Wes Hoffman, who envisioned a water tower theatre. On your way to the youth ball fields, I’ll bet you have noticed the smaller building that extends into the parking lot in front of the tower. That was to have been the theatre lobby…it is already plumbed for bathrooms…and inside there are two additional floors for storage and rehearsal and two flights of stairs…elevators were not yet required in the early 80’s …trap doors with a winch for lowering and raising scenery.
There is no doubt a theatre in a water tower would be an unusual use of such a facility and a tremendous entertainment draw at least in all of Ohio. There are several others, but am familiar with only one, and it is considered a definite tourist attraction in Addison, Texas. It is wonderful…I’ve been there several times. There is no security risk as the water bowl is far above…inaccessible by all but City employees.
It has been nearly 30 years, but I think the physical additions to the Carter tower cost an additional $125,000. It was estimated at the time that it would cost a similar amount to finish the tower to be used as a theatre…air conditioning, heating, insulation. etc., etc. The City did not finish the job at the time?? There have been two estimates over 20 years from local architects…the first, over $200,000…the second, nearly $300,000. Not having any accurate figures at my disposal, I am sure it would cost nearly $500,000 to finish today…still far less than building any sort of separate theatre building. The facility is now being used to house mowing equipment for the parks and the lobby for a number of storage duties!!! Wow! Shut your eyes and envision…”Now Playing in Bowling Green’s Unique Water Tower Theatre……” Now doesn’t that sound nice?
C’mon City Council…how about finding a way to finish that water tower? Or, if there is a private donor out there…”The John Doe Water Tower Theatre.”
Bob Hastings
Bowling Green
