We were at a 70th birthday party last night- and for once, the birthday honoree wasn’t reluctant to admit their age… because it was the Racine Theater Guild which turned 70 years old. There’s always an end-of-the-year banquet to celebrate the season just completed – but they pulled out the stops for this 70th anniversary banquet, which resulted in their biggest turnout ever. . . well over 100 RTG volunteers and staffers on hand for one heck of a party.
If there’s one problem with a bunch of theater types throwing themselves a party, it’s that theater types love the spotlight- AND love to hear themselves talk – and like to make a big deal about every little thing. . . which adds up to a long night of speeches and presentations. But at least they know how to talk. (I kept reminding myself that it would be worse if it were some sort of convention for shy accountants, or some end-of-the-year banquet for some boring manufacturer. At least this was about something exciting.) One of the highlights of the program was when my wife, as the most recent recipient of the John Maccanelli Volunteer of the Year Award, presented it to the newest winner, Russ Stetler. She did a wonderful job- partly because she had it written out and was so much more to-the-point. Another highpoint was when Doug Instenes, artistic manager of the RTG, gave his annual state-of-the-RTG address and really did a nice job. This time around, instead of just telling us how important we are in the community, he read from a plethora of real life letters which the RTG has received from people who have appreciated what we do. . . including a really touching note from someone in town who couldn’t renew their season tickets because they had suffered some sort of health situation which meant that they couldn’t afford them anymore. . . and a RTG volunteer, who wished to remain anonymous, donated the money so these folks could retain their season tickets. This was the big lump-in-the- throat moment of the night.
After the meal and the 300 speeches which took place after the meal (actually, I think it was just 30 speeches but each one took 45 minutes) we adjourned upstairs to the main hall (we were at the Racine Masonic Temple) for a one-act comedy called “the Bride wore Red Pajamas.” It was a cute little thing, done really well – but what made it extra special was that this was the very play which was the initial production of the Racine Theater Guild 70 years ago. It was a really neat step backwards in time and such a fitting tribute to the RTG itself and its long legacy of live theater. Think of it- Franklin D. Roosevelt was president and television had not even been invented yet when the first RTG play was presented. And to paraphrase the great Sondheim song, “We’re Still Here!”
pictured: The crowd at last night’s RTG banquet at the Masonic Temple. The guy in the purple shirt is Mike Kroes, president of the RTG. To his right is Doug Instenes, the artistic manager. And at the table behind them, just to Doug’s left, is Kathy’s dad.