The Clarkston Village Players and Clarkston Conservatory of Music are teaming up to develop The Clarkston Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA).
‘The plan here is for those two groups to come together,? said Bart Clark, president of CCPA board of trustees. ‘Both of them would support the creation of a Clarkston Center for Performing Arts, which is an independent organization that really is sort of like a landlord and both groups would use the building.?
The CCPA building would be located behind the current music conservatory located at 49 S. Main Street on the strip of land between the current building and City Hall. The building would be three stories high, but still below the top of the current conservatory building.
The ground floor will be the ‘working area,? where sets would be built, equipment stored, and instruction given. The main floor is ‘the heart? of the performing area where plays, recitals, other various forms of performing arts will take place, and where the main entrance to the building will be. The Balcony level will contain balcony seating, sound and lighting equipment, support facilities and large reception area. Clark estimates a cost to build the building along with all the needed accessories would be close to $2 million.
‘I think it’s going to be a great thing,? Clark said. ‘The purpose of this is to improve the cultural life of Clarkston.?
He believes the idea is a good one, but they do have many issues to solve such as getting an accounting system in place to keep track of the money donated, take care of any zoning issues, as well as spending money on a survey. One of the issues is parking. For every three seats in the theater there has to be one parking spot outside.
Clark estimates about 120 seats for the theater, which would equal 40 parking spaces, but there also needs to be parking for staff as well. He said the current Parking lot next to City Hall and Depot Park has 70 spaces, but the city officials would have to agree for the lot to be used for the CCPA.
‘I am encouraged by this and really believe it’s going to be a terrific thing,? he said.
CCPA Trustee and CVP member Amy Seaman agreed.
‘I think it’s an incredibly exciting project, I think it’s beneficial to not only to the Clarkston Village Players and the Clarkston Conservatory, but I think it will be wonderful for the people of Clarkston and the community,? Seaman said. ‘I hope the project thrives.?
Clark said the project is broken down into three phases. This year he said is an ‘organizational year? of just getting the plans laid out and to talk to as many people as they can. He has already presented to the Clarkston Historical District Commission, City Council, Clarkston Rotary Club, Optimist Club, and Clarkston United Methodist Church.
‘Any group that will listen and want to hear more about it, I’m happy to talk about it,? he said. ‘I want to have as much feedback from the community as I can.?
Clark noted they already are putting together a developmental team, which will be the fund-raising team in 2011. They are hoping to have the project completed and grand opening in 2013.
‘I think the CCPA will be a wonderful addition to downtown Clarkston because it would provide a proper and modern entertainment facility for both the Clarkston Conservatory of Music and the Clarkston Village Players,? said CCPA Board Vice President and CVP member Dave Kramer. ‘Both organizations desperately need a facility of this sort.?
Jim Wilhelmsen, owner of the Clarkston Conservatory of Music said he had been working on this idea of a recital hall for the past seven years.
‘We actually got the funding from the bank and were ready to go and then the economy hit,? Wilhelmsen said. ‘So, we had to shell the idea because we didn’t want to deal with foreclosure.?
After being approached by Tom Stone, consultant for CCPA board and Kramer with a proposed partnership to combine both CVP and CCM, Wilhelmsen said he thought it was a ‘fabulous idea.?
‘I think it’s an absolutely beautiful idea,? he said. ‘I’m looking forward to the whole process.?
Other CCPA board members include Jeff Moore, treasurer, Sue Owen, secretary, Diane Clark, executive secretary and trustees Kris Libstaff, Miram Moore, and Vern Vackaro.
CCPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Those interested in donating can email clarkstonperformingarts@gmail.com or for more information visit www.clarksotnpeformingarts.org.