Dear STAAR Supporters and Friends:

Looking back on 2009 proves an amazing year for our STAAR. We find that even in this tough economy, people are eager to have the opportunity to expand their horizons and those of their children in the performing and visual arts.  We are so excited to see what 2010 will bring and hope you will join us in our effort to keep the momentum going.

Our past several productions in our new home have shown us by sheer number of volunteers, actors coming for auditions, as well as folks in our seats, including sell out crowds, that there is a great need in our community for this type of organization. We are providing programs to enrich the curriculum in area schools.  The arts and music programs we make available only enhance a child’s ability to gain self-confidence while learning a “craft”.  STAAR believes that by providing this option to students, they have the opportunity to explore something wonderful and learn the value of being part of a theatre “team”.   Any adult volunteer who has had the opportunity to see a child on the stage for the first time, scared to death, looking at their shoes, and speaking softly, can tell you that it’s an amazing transformation to see that same child a month later. Once they experience our positive, professional, supportive guidance, they cannot hold back!  They want to be in front, singing the loudest, with the spotlight following their every move!  They come back to audition show after show just to be involved and work as a team to provide a program that is pleasing to all who attend. 

STAAR's new home came at the best time possible for the group.   We now have events and plays scheduled every month- something we were not able to do without a home of our own.  Since September 2007, when we “moved in”, we have been able to organize and inventory what we have very easily due to the spaciousness of the building.  We can now make permanent improvements that allow us to expand into new areas of the arts for dance rehearsals, visual and performing arts classes, music room, a set design/building area, dining hall, offices, and concessions area and an abundance of storage room for sets, props and wardrobe.  Back stage we also plan to expand the dressing rooms, install more restrooms for the cast and crew as well as beginning the addition of a make up room.  All proceeds from our shows go right back into the next production or an improvement that we have next on our list to make each visit for our guests more and more comfortable.

As for the community, we are providing our children, teens, and adults an opportunity to gain self confidence through many avenues from acting, directing, technical training, dance instruction, sales and advertising, set design and construction, marketing, and music to mention a few.  The square is so alive on nights we have rehearsals and performances.  Our children's production of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids overwhelmed us!  We had 126 children under the age of 15 come out to audition and every child was placed in the show!  With each child came the willing hands of at least 50 parents to build sets, sign in kids, baby sit, work on costumes, sell tickets, run concessions and so on.  Those parents who were not signed up to help particular nights have all enjoyed shopping and dinning around the square- especially during rehearsals when the parents drop off their children and need something to keep them busy for a few hours.  We have also worked in conjunction with different businesses on the square to serve as ticket outlets during their operating hours- this benefits STAAR to have a set location every day and of course the business enjoys having folks visit their stores and restaurants.

Many of the businesses on the square and around town have also shown support by purchasing advertising for the programs.  We have had between 500 and 1000 patrons come to see any particular show- many from out of town and several from out of state who opt to spend the night in Pulaski.  We believe that our all- volunteer efforts not only help the people who are active with STAAR, but also help the economy and tourism in this town that we are so proud to be an asset to.

The fact that we were given the chance by a prominent business man’s generous offer of a home for our first year and the confidence in STAAR by the current owner, Stan Pierchoski, who is in a 10 year lease to purchase agreement with STAAR told us that there are those out there who believe in what we are doing and know that our heart is certainly in this. We are also confident that our efforts are being noticed by the community as there have been many who are now coming to us with donations of materials and in-kind support:  Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Hillside Hospital, Clayton Homes, Lowe’s Home Improvement, CBS Bank, garden clubs, book clubs, and the Bank of Frankewing are a few of the very generous supporters of STAAR.

Members of STAAR vary greatly in age from 5 years old to members in their eighties!  We do our very best to offer something for each age range and interest throughout the year. Recent productions include: “101 Dalmatians”, "High School Musical 2" for our teens, and  “1776 the Musical”(Historical piece to honor and celebrate Giles County’s Bi-Centennial). Our 2009 Season also included  “Greater Tuna”, “Phantom of the Old Opera House”,” The Nutcracker Ballet”, and Dickens “A Christmas Carol” and our Annual Christmas Extravaganza and STAAR Search.  We have now added Family Karaoke nights on weekends when we have no productions running.  Our Performing Arts Committee works each season to bring in drama, children’s, teens, comedy, murder mysteries, seasonal, and historical pieces to make sure that we offer something for everyone.  There are also the dances and workshops that go on each month that requires coordination of people interested in those areas.

During each production we take great pride in training our teens and young people in the technical areas.  Many of our teens and adults come out to help with sets and marketing, working concessions or the dinner theatre, setting up chairs, clean up crews and so on.  It takes quite a group of dedicated people from all ages to make this a success.  There are several families involved where each family member has found their place somewhere within STAAR, which makes it appealing to many who enjoy working on a project that keeps the family together and serves the community as volunteers at the same time!

We began this organization  unsure of where we were going, but look at what we've accomplished so far.  I cannot wait to see what the next 10 years will bring!  We are going to be a work in progress for many years to come- there are always improvements to be made. We have recently completed our visual arts gallery as well as new handicap accessible guest restrooms. Next on our "to do List" is the removal of the iron pole in the center of the theatre that is holding up the Opera House on our second floor. This Opera House was built in 1868 complete with a raked stage, “keyed” woodwork wing walls and horseshoe balcony!  It was closed in the 1940’s and has been vacant since.  It is the oldest standing opera house this part of the country that was built as such and remained one until it’s closing. Architects and Engineers tell us this is not beyond repair! Our long-range goal is to restore this gem for the community to enjoy and be proud of once again.

These projects all take funding and with the success of the past several productions, we have been able to pay the bills and put back a little to chip away at the projects coming up.  There have also been some very generous organizations and individuals who have shown their support with tax-deductible donations. This is certainly the quickest way to assure our success in this new home.

The number one project we are faced with is making the purchase of this building so we can be assured that we can continue to provide this important service to our community.  It will certainly take the physical as well as the financial support to help us keep this available for generations to come.

In the near future, we would like to be available for: traveling shows to come in to perform, awards ceremonies, receptions, meetings, parties, etc. . . .We want the community to view this as "their community theatre" and be a part of STAAR.

It is now time for new dreams and goals within the framework of our mission and our traditions.  One of the reasons we dare to embrace these dreams is you!  The support of our friends is phenomenal- attendance at productions, donated time, contributions of resources, a fantastic volunteer board of directors, and most of all, persistent encouragement to excel and innovate.

Finally we want to mention that the STAAR Theatre handicap accessible restrooms have been completed. One of our teens who has been active at STAAR in our Tech Crew has undertaken the design, acquisition and construction of the restrooms as his Boy Scout Eagle Rank Project. This aggressive project requires the Boy Scout to demonstrate leadership in all phases of the project. He has organized a fundraiser, co-coordinated corporate contributions, designed and completed construction. It will be a wonderful improvement to the STAAR Theatre and will have helped generate an Eagle Scout in our community.

The number one project we are faced with is making the purchase of this building so we can be assured that we can continue to provide this important service to our community.  It will certainly take the physical as well as the financial support to help us keep this available for generations to come.

Our future will depend on what Giles County wants.   In the near future, we would like to be available for: traveling shows to come in to perform, awards ceremonies, receptions, meetings, parties, etc. . . .We want the community to view this as "their community theatre" and be a part of STAAR.

This whole idea of the arts center began years ago as a dream. It is now time for new dreams and goals within the framework of our mission and our traditions. One of the reasons we dare to embrace these dreams is you! The support of our friends is phenomenal- attendance at productions, donated time, contributions of resources, a fantastic volunteer board of directors, and most of all, persistent encouragement to excel and innovate.

We are excited to embark on our next 10 years and would like to thank you all- especially  the parents who allow their children to come and learn and grow into these amazing, self-confident, productive people in our community!  Your confidence and trust in us mean everything. We know that you will be with continue on with us, and we are inspired by, and grateful for, your support.

Thank you for your tremendous support.

Sincerely,

Tammy Pierchoski, President