In September of 2004, feeling the weight of debt, the Empty Space Theatre Board of Directors voted to "go dark." They laid off staff and kicked off a major fundraising effort to find $350,000 by January 15th, 2005.

In October, representatives of the remaining staff - Whitney Burdsall, Media Contact and Steve Galatro, Interim Managing Director - asked to speak at the Fremont Chamber of Commerce Board meeting. Whitney told us about their struggles, and their efforts to raise money (which can be followed at www.emptyspace.org). Allison Narver, Artistic Director for the Empty Space, echoed Whitney, and calmed nerves with her descriptions of endless avenues they might still pursue.

For many Chamber Board Members, the news came as a shock. Fact is the Empty Space told us before they told the rest of the world. Considering the way we've championed live theater in our community in the past, we'd earned such an honor.

Ties Came Undone

Granted, lately the connection between the Chamber and the Space has suffered. Whitney and Steve don't deny it. Since losing their long-time Managing Director, Melissa Hines (a Chamber past-President), a couple years ago, the Space focus turned internal.

For our part, recent years of prosperity may have left us lazy and content. At one time the fate of our theater meant the success or failure of our floundering business district. Now a permanent closure could close only a percentage of our many restaurants. We've diversified, and enjoyed some measure of success outside the theater's influence.

It wasn't always so

In the early days of this Chamber, we bemoaned the deplorable state of our retail core. Between the bars, the antique stores and boarded up storefronts, our largest core 'retailer' consisted of the Fremont Public Association. The Chamber quickly took the cause of the old I.O.O.F. Hall and championed a theater group there.

Bold Efforts Launched

"A major project that is partially backed by the Chamber is the American Music Theatre," our March 1984 newsletter says. "The American Music Theatre and the Fremont Public Association's Food Bank are combining efforts to bring a new theatre and school to the Fremont area and to end hunger in our neighborhoods. The American Music Theatre and Academy is part of a newly developing profile in the Fremont district with emphasis on economic and cultural growth. Ralph McCoy, General Director, wants Fremonsters to join in 'an adventure of non-traditional, neighborhood based, touring company prepared to make theatre wherever theatre happens.' Fremonsters are great adventurers!"

Prior newsletters urged cooperation with fundraising efforts by the AMT. "The Benefit dinner is a fund raiser that the Chamber members should be supportive of… There will be a telephone campaign to solicit. You can expect a call." In December 1983, the newsletter mentions a grant search "to continue work, something that is good for Fremont."

Unfortunately, this effort failed. AMT did get us thinking though and while Woodsilk next rented the theater, manufacturing beautiful, entirely realistic silk plants, we looked for other ways to develop the area.

The Chamber continued to hold meetings there - as one notice in August 1985 listed it "Formerly known as 'The Club'. Also the former Odd Fellows Hall." In 1991, when the magic/performance group Laughing Moon Theater used the space, they called it The Fremont Palace.

"Sleep Tight - An evening of magic, video and deranged comedy" left a big impression on this attendee. I went to a performance sponsored by the Chamber, which meant I went because I had to, and found my lost interest in live theater restored. The two high-energy performers worked mercilessly until our uncontrollable laughter sprouted tears.

Unfortunately, this laughter didn't last either, but it did lead to bigger things.

Provoking A Response

The Empty Space Theatre Company needed a home. They'd rented a variety of small, unusual and sometimes condemned spaces in and around Pioneer Square, and wanted something not only safe, but semi-permanent. They wanted a home. Fremont wanted them.

With the Empty Space we got a company with a track record, and a reputation. Rather than having to help birth a fledgling, we welcomed a brightly painted dove. Chamber minutes from 1992 mention fundraising efforts done by the Space towards moving costs. This time, we joined our help with that of a wide range of cultivated supporters.

When the face of their building collapsed in 2001, making it "unsafe" for most of one season, the Space accrued debt from rental of office space, use of other venues and loss of subscribers. In 2001, the economy turned down and we've all suffered, but our theater may not recover. And this still is our theater, and we need it.

Cause For Celebration

Steve reported on a recent study that showed that for every dollar spent on a theater ticket, $5 - 7 gets spent at a surrounding business. For a $30 ticket, that brings Fremont area businesses $180 a night - from each ticket holder. Even if the Empty Space draws in only 30 people, do the math…can we risk it?

Luckily, Steve and the Empty Space Board don't look for handouts. They've searched for ways to avoid future shortfalls. 'Resource sharing' could benefit us even more than the theatre. They intend to find a small theater group, or two, to use their stage and scene shop during the Empty Space "down time" between seasons. In this scenario, Fremont would see 30 ticket holders walk our sidewalks, eat at our restaurants, and shop our stores year round. We all win.

The Empty Space "strives to make theater an event - bold, provocative, celebratory - bringing audiences and artists to a common ground through an uncommon experience" according to their mission. The Fremont Chamber mission? Well, I'd say 'bold', 'provocative' and 'celebratory' might make the list, but 'uncommon'? Around here, the uncommon is downright commonplace.