THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, February 22, 2019 Page 3 ASKS | from page 1 by people in the town to create a theatre company. Before we were incorporated, we were called the “Town-Criers.” So, he went to the Board of Selectmen and asked, “Can we create this group?” and they said “Yeah, go ahead,” so he created a group in 1968 and it started out as the Town-Criers, and it later became the Theatre Company of Saugus. And in 1990, we incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation. Q: So the origin … A: The origin was that people in the town were looking for something to do culturally and something as a hobby of sorts, and they felt like theatre was something missing from the town. And Leo Nickole, who is actually a professor emeritus at Emerson, taught theatre there, so he was kind of the perfect man to create a theatre company. His family is very prominent in town and his whole family was very involved in the early years of TCS, and Leo is considered our founder. So, we started out as the TownCriers and we performed for many years down the street at St. John’s [Episcopal Church]. And there is a sign that we still have that says “The Little Theatre.” It’s not at St. John’s. It’s in our storage unit. It says “Little Theatre,” because it was a tiny stage that we created and had been through many, many different sets over the years. Q: What’s the most interesting thing that you know about the Theatre Company of Saugus? A: One of the things that I love about TCS is that we’ve been around for 50 years and we never had a home officially; we never owned our own building or anything like that. But we’re still here. There are a lot of local theatre companies who are like us. We kind of call ourselves a little traveling theatre company, but we have always called Saugus our home and we’ve tried to not venture too far out of it … and a lot of local theatre companies have not been able to sustain themselves in the current economy and times. And people would rather spend $16 to go to the movies as opposed to come and see live theatre, so it’s just a different generation, and the fact that we are still around is kind of cool testament to the company itself. Q: You are totally volunteer? A: Yes, except that we do various stipends to people on production teams, directors, choreographers and people like that. But all of the board members are volunteer. Most of our designer positions are volunteer. Q: So, is this is all supported by grant money or does the town budget anything? A: The town does not give us any money. All of our money comes in from ticket sales and advertising and sponsorships, which these days aren’t very big at all because everybody is struggling. People pay membership once a year to be involved in the theatre company, and we have minimum show fees, but overall, any money that we get goes right back into producing the shows and then paying, sometimes, the production staff. Q: What does it cost, on the average, for a year to do what you do? A: I guess it depends on the shows. If you are doing a musical, it’s more money. Rights costs more money. You have to get a director and a choreographer and a musical director. Before you even start putting anything artistically on the stage, it can cost upwards of $6,000 before you get into anything – costumes, sets, makeup, hair and so forth. And that’s one of the reasons why we haven’t performed at the high school in a couple of years, because – on top of all of that – you then have to pay for the rental space and then the custodians. And then on top of that, before you even start putting anything on that stage, it’s like $10,000. But in working here, the American Legion has been very amazing to us. They charge us a minimal fee to rent the space, but it’s nothing compared to what we had rented in the past at other places. It’s pennies compared to what we’ve paid elsewhere. I’d rather not say how much, other than that they’ve been very reasonable with us. Other places have been charging us as if we make money off of the things that we do. Debra Dion Faust is also in charge of running the building at 44 Taylor St. She works with the Massachusetts Theatre Guild. She used to be a theatre teacher, so it’s really nice to have a theatre person running the building that we’re working in, because she knows what we need and what we want and what it entails. If you’re having a show and need to build a set, and you plan to build the set at least a week before the show, you can’t have anybody else using the space when you book it. It’s very nice that we have a person like her to work with us because she thinks ahead of those things or reminds us, or she will remind other people, “They need the space” or “They dine drink gather enjoy THE NORTH SHORE'S HOTTEST NIGHTCLUB! IN THE MUSIC HALL IN THE MUSIC HALL Friday, February 22 BRANDY with Special Guests STONE TEMPLE POSERS IN THE MUSIC HALL Friday, March 1 BRIAN MAES BAND IN THE MUSIC HALL Saturday, March 2 THE JOSHUA TREE U2 Tribute Band Saturday, February 23 need this.” Q: How many members in the Theatre Company of Saugus? A: I’d say it around 50, but it varies from year to year deASKS | SEE PAGE 4 Saturday, March 16 WILDFIRE Celebrate St. Paddy's Weekend! IN THE MUSIC HALL Friday, March 8 IN THE MUSIC HALL Saturday, March 30 LIVIN' ON A BAD NAME Bon Jovi Tribute KISS FOREVER Kiss Tribute Band 221 Newbury Street, Danvers For Tickets call (978) 774-7270 or www.breakawaydanvers.com ON THE SET: Theatre Company of Saugus President Amanda Allen before a practice session this week, upstairs at Saugus American Legion Hall, for this weekend’s performance of “Children of Eden.” There are three shows: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
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