Hello and welcome to That's So Auburn! I'm Nancy Backus, Mayor of the City of Auburn, and today's episode is all about the middle part of our official Parks department's name – I'm talking of course about the arts! Live theater, community performances and the future of one of Auburn's most beloved downtown gathering places.
Today I'm joined by two people who help make so much of that work happen: Allison Hyde, the City of Auburn's Arts Supervisor, and Jim Kleinbeck, our Theater Program Coordinator.
Allison helps lead the City's arts programming, from public art and gallery exhibitions to events, performances and opportunities that connect residents with creativity throughout Auburn. And Jim works closely with our theater programs, performers, directors, volunteers and audiences to help bring live productions to life. Not to mention the summer camps with Auburn's youngest thespians.
And of course, this is such a fun time to have this conversation, because there is a lot happening.
BRAVO is currently preparing for Auburn Community Jr. Players' production of Disney's Newsies Jr., with performances coming up Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, July 26 at 2 p.m. at Auburn Riverside Theater.
We're also looking ahead to the new Auburn Avenue Theater project downtown. For so many years, the Auburn Avenue Theater was a place where people laughed, listened, watched films, performed, gathered and made memories. After the original theater was damaged and ultimately came down, we've been busy working and building toward something very meaningful: a new theater that honors that history while giving Auburn a modern performing arts space for the future.
This project is about more than just a building, of course. It's about downtown, about local artists, about families, about young performers getting their first chance on stage, and about creating a place where our community can come together again. And it should be opening sometime next year!
Listen to the full episode and consider liking and subscribing!
