Estes Park resident Dr. Harlalee “Hal” Wilson died at Prospect Park Living Center on Sunday, November 15, 2009. He was 83 years old. Harlalee A. Wilson was born February 24, 1926 in Medford, OR. His parents were Lawrence and Pearl Wilson.

Hal formerly resided in Iowa City, IA. He moved to Estes Park in 1991. Hal married Sandra Joseph on December 27, 1960 in Hayward, CA. Hal was a veteran of WWII and Korea (U.S. Army Air Corps & U.S. Army).

Hal began his violin studies at the age of five. He received his BA in Music in violin, and his MM in Music History and Literature from the Los Angeles Conservatory, as a student of Sasha Jacobsen. He began his career as a violinist with the Denver Symphony, touring summers with the Russ Morgan Band. He played with the Portland Symphony in Portland, OR. He has also been concertmaster of the Arapahoe Chamber Orchestra in Littleton, CO and the Estes Park Oratorio Society Orchestra, and has been a member of the Quad City Orchestra in Davenport, IA, the Iowa City String Orchestra and the Boulder Mahlerfest Orchestra. Hal earned his Ph.D in Educational Curriculum, specializing in Computer Assisted Instruction at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. He served as Vice President of Computer Curriculum Corporation in Palo Alto, Educational Program Director for Harcourt Brace publishers in New York, Director of Test Development at the National Assessment of Educational Progress in Denver, Educational Project in Juneau, and Business Program Director at ACT in Iowa City. Hal has been an active performer and teacher, maintaining a private studio and encouraging aspiring musicians throughout his life. He organized and conducted a Youth Orchestra in Estes Park for several years. Hal was a founding member of the Iowa City Chamber Orchestra serving for 14 years; he was a musician and member at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Estes Park, CO. In his later years Hal took up watercolor painting. He was a student of Jan Hart. Hal was lauded for his use of color and, along with his wife Sandra, was an exhibitor at the Estes Park Library.

Hal is survived by his wife Sandra of Estes Park, CO; son Lawrence and wife Tanna of Joelton, TN; daughter Catherine Peterson and husband Dale of Westminster, CO; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the Oratorio Society of Estes Park or SOPA in care of Allnutt Estes Park Chapel, 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517. See www.allnutt.com to see Hal’s on-line obituary and send a message to the family.

Courtesy Artist Rendering

The weekly column about the new Performing Arts Center (PAC) for Estes park is meant to be a two way street. You are invited to participate in these question and answers by submitting a thought or question you would like to have answered. If you would like clarification or more elucidation on details of a subject that you know something about but that is still of concern to you, you may submit that as well. Contact information is available at the bottom of each column so please join in and make your thoughts known.

Today’s often asked question deals with the ongoing operations of the PAC; How is the management of the facility going to be handled?

Many townsfolk have asked what the operational philosophy of the Estes Park Performing Arts Center (PAC) will consist of. One of the most important questions about the Center is that of management in that it will affect everyone who chooses to use the facility, whether local or from out of town. The SOPA INC board of directors will conduct a search for a professional person with the proper managerial skills in booking a theater, managing the theater schedule and personnel. He/she must be capable of instituting and carrying on a variety of programs and events that fit the site and maintain quality programming throughout the year. The manager will have a background in theater arts that is heavy in the managerial spectrum.  He/she will be in place approximately a year in advance of the opening date for the PAC in order to have bookings established for the impending first season. Advance bookings are extremely important as any theater must have booking capabilities for three to five years in advance to ensure the fullest usage possible.

Summer programming will be of great importance to the overall success of the PAC. A concern that there will be scant time for local organizations to use the facility during this time has been broached therefore the manager will be instructed that there is to be a reasonable balance between the local and out of town users of the PAC. A plan to allow local groups or individual entrepreneurs to pre-book time and venue slots will ensure the fair use of facilities to those locals registered in the system. There is a variety of different spaces to accommodate everything from large performances to intimate settings for smaller groups. As most local users do not produce in the summer months the booking schedule won’t necessarily affect them.  For those who traditionally do have summer performances, they may assure their dates by reserving them well in advance. Remaining un-booked dates and times may be booked in any venue, at any time, throughout the year on application to the manager.

The center will have three time slots for bookings for each area per day: morning – afternoon – evening. With the technical capabilities that are planned for the center a variety of events may be handled on any given day with several venues in use at the same time as well. A tremendous advantage of the PAC is that events that are now scattered in a variety of inadequate places around the town will have a home in a central location making it more accessable for both active participants and audiences with the added convienience of 600 new parking spaces.

As with most community operated facilities of this sort, there will be a number of opportunities for volunteers in  variety of areas who are capable of helping shift scenery, re-set curtains and drops, move furniture for different venues, act as ushers and other staffing jobs. A professional technical director will be responsible, along with the manager, for supervising all technical aspects in the facility to ensure safety of participants. Please note that these are planning thoughts and will be amended as necessary when a manager is hired.

This information has been provided by Greig Steiner – SOPA INC board-theater consultant

“If we build it, they will come.” No, let’s say, “When we build it…” You may  help by sending your contributions to SOPA at P.O. Box 3077, Estes Park, CO 80517.

To submit a question Contact SOPA INC at info@estesparktheater.com  – Phone: 970-481-6630 – P.O. Box 3077-Estes Park-Colo-80517
See our web-site at www.estesparktheater.com for further information.

Courtesy Artist Rendering

The questions asked in this column are derived from sources such as those asked by current donors, questionnaires and interviews with local people who are interested in this important project. We welcome your input as well and hope that if you have concerns that are not answered here you will let us know by sending a note or calling to leave a message with your own questions. Contact address and phone are shown at the bottom of each column. The answers provided will come from a SOPA INC. board member, a member of a committee related to the question or other person with expertise who is working on the project, to give the best answer and information possible.

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To The Editor:

“…The Story of What A Theater Means To the Economy of A Small Town….” is the line that catches our attention in an article in last Saturday’s Denver Post cover story. The theater group known as The Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre (SCRT) in Trinidad, Colorado has been in existence for only seven years yet it has already become an integral part of this town’s creative attempt to jump start a tourist season where there has never been one. The group does three major shows per summer plus operating a separate children’s theater camp and performance.

When the SCRT group fell on hard times because of the current economic situation the whole town came together to raise the funds for the 2009 season. They realized, whether they had ever been to a performance or not, that the lack of the theater would change the complexion of the town in a very adverse way and probably affect their own incomes as well.

The Post article goes on to say “According to a Colorado Council on the Arts study, companies the size of SCRT pump $1 million into their local economies each summer.” The SCRT is a theater that only operates three months a year with performances Thursday through Sunday. Estes Park has the advantage of already being a major tourist center but is still without a proper theater venue.  It is estimated by studies done in Estes Park in the past few years that a full service, year-around theater would add at least $2 million per year to the coffers of Estes Park merchants, restaurants and accommodations owners.

A Performing Arts Center for Estes Park is not a pie-in-the-sky proposition but a positive way to grow the local infrastructure along with social, creative, performance and educational opportunities for our town and area. The Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and many Volunteers of the Supporters Of  The Performing Arts of Estes Park are working diligently toward this goal and with the support and participation of the whole community will get this job done! Jump on board and be a part of this exciting addition to our town. You can see a presentation on the project or request an information packet by visiting the SOPA INC. web site at www.estesparktheater.com to see the New Face of Theater in Estes Park

Ann and Greig Steiner

By Greig Steiner

A memorial service will be held to honor Charles Chaffin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2009 at the Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Avenue. He died on 18 December 2008. Charles was a friend to many and a well know supporter of the arts in Estes Park for many years. He and his wife Ginni and family came to Estes Park in 1972 and immediately became active members of the community.

In retirement Charles brought his deep love of music to Estes Park, founding the Estes Park Music Festival and serving on its board for many years. He was active in the church choir, and acted in many Fine Arts Guild performances and, along with Ginni hosted many evenings of the Chamber Music Society and other traveling musicians in their home. He also served with the Ambassadors of the Estes Park Chamber of Commerce for many years.

Among many contributors; Bill Bishop of Bishop Gallery wrote, “There would be no Music Festival without Charles. He was the kindest person I ever met. He never said an unkind word about anyone.” Madison Casey, President of the EPMF writes, “Charles was so supportive and active in the arts of Estes Park. He was dedicated to the Music festival and was always there when needed. He was a true gentleman and counselor.” Giora Bernstein, founder of the Colorado Music Festival (CMF) said, “Charles Chaffin loved the Colorado Music Festival.  He was a staunch supporter, advocate and promoter of its concerts in Estes Park for over three decades. He was soft spoken, warm, affectionate to the Festival musicians. His unfailing loyalty and love for the CMF over the years has touched us all.

He will be sorely missed.” Ann and Greig Steiner remember that “Charles was a joy to work with, always cheerful and fun to be with. Many happy conversations and chats brought us together during the many years we served on the EPMF board and during the exciting times of setting up for the Christmas Fantasy Ball.”

The Supporters Of The Performing Arts Inc. (SOPA Inc.) is honored that the Chaffin family has chosen to make memorial donations in Charles’ name to benefit the performing arts in Estes Park. SOPA Inc. will use these contributions to establish The Charles and Ginni Chaffin Performance Fund for the new Performing Arts Center. The fund will be dedicated to the encouragement of local persons or groups who wish to use the facilities but may not have their own fund-raising capabilities. The SOPA Inc. board of directors, committee chairs and volunteers expect this fund to continue to grow over time to become a major adjunct to the production opportunities for local performance soloists and groups. Donations may be made at the memorial service or sent to SOPA Inc. – P. O. Box 3077 Estes Park – CO 80517 in the name of The Chaffin Fund.

To the Editor:

We are at a major crossroads in human civilization in regards to the massive technological advances of the last century. Inundated with a wealth of mass media such as radio, television, film, and now the internet, Live HUMAN performance is struggling to survive.

Art forms that have been an essential part of our culture for thousands of years such as theater, dance, music, oratory and more, are at risk of being lost forever. No longer will our premier artists be those who bare their souls upon the stage; but, they will be the computer nerds, stuffed in dark cubicles who come up with the most efficient computer software to animate, digitize and further homogenize our HD lifestyles, in poor imitation of traditional live arts?

Our children will learn whatever and wherever we teach them. I see a growing majority becoming TV, MP3, PC and Nintendo addicts, slavishly attached to their couch-potato based high tech pseudo arts. Give me Children’s Theater. Give me Youth Orchestra. Give me Boy’s Choir. Give me anything that keeps our next generation in touch with their hands on artistic cultural roots. As much as I adore Mickey Mouse, he and his mass produced successors are stealing away my spot on life’s stage, shoving me aside as a mere spectator.

In order that we foster performing arts with education, funding and performance venues, those of the current generation who control the purse strings must be made aware of the truly vital importance of art in our society. Mickey was fortunate enough to have had a real music teacher to help him sing and dance. Who will be educated enough to make the next generation’s Mickey a star?

In Estes Park, SOPA and other like minded organizations have made an excellent first step in creating a place for performing arts to thrive. Please, please allow them the means to complete their goals. Shame on us if we go down in history as the generation who killed the arts due to lack of funding. Let us take back from Mickey Mouse that which he has stolen: our creativity, our art, our humanity. Robert Keep,

Owner, Highland Music Center and Board Member of Cultural Arts Council of Colorado.

Steven B. Salamoff of Estes Park, Colorado passed away on February 6, 2008.

Steven was formerly of Bethesda, MD and Newton, MA.

Steven was the beloved husband of Donna Salamoff of Estes Park, CO;  devoted father of Scott Salamoff of  Houston,TX, and Robyn Salamoff of Brooklyn, NY; son of Robert Salamoff of Peabody, MA and the late Dorothy Salamoff; and brother of Marsha Green of Newton, MA.

A Private funeral will be held.

Donations in his memory can be made to Supporters Of Performing Arts (SOPA), P.O. Box #4303, Estes Park, CO 80517.

From his family,
We love you so much and we miss you dearly.
Love, Donna, Scott and Robyn.

To The Editor:

On behalf of the National Park Players/Burdick Productions, I am writing this letter to voice my support for SOPA and their efforts to bring a performing arts center to Estes Park.

Having professionally produced live theatre in Estes Park for the last few years, I can attest to the fact that there is a definite need for a fully dedicated facility for the performing arts. There are many, many gifted performers and organizations in the Estes Park area that would benefit greatly from such a facility. The e are several venues in town currently which are being used as performances spaces, however all of these facilities fall well below the standard for quality production. The National Park Payers currently operate out of the Park Village Playhouse, which is basically a large conference room. Given the physical limitations of the space (very limited scenic, lighting & sound capabilities) we tend to focus on small scale shows. In an ideal situation, we would like to be doing larger, full cast productions, however this is a near impossibility given the current situation.

To better illustrate and assess the needs of this community, I would like to draw a parallel to another. In addition to producing theatre in Estes Park, I am also the artistic director of the Butte Opera House for the City of Cripple Creek. Cripple Creek is similar to Estes Park in that both are rural communities with thriving arts programs that are essential to both the tourism industry and to the quality of life that is afforded its residents.

The facility that I manage in Cripple Creek is a 186 seat renovated Victorian theatre. Cripple Creek is a small town (about 1200 residents in and around the City,) and yet we are still able to book the theatre almost on a year-round basis. The programming is varied, and ranges from professional theatre which draws audiences from across the country, to community theatre, local dance concerts, school functions, civic functions, fundraisers and many other various events. If, in such a small community, these needs are present, then surely in a thriving community such as Estes Park, the need is similarly present, if not on a much greater scale.

I hope that you find this letter to be useful in the process of accomplishing our shared vision. A performing arts facility would certainly be a most welcome addition to your community.

Mickey Burdick, Butte Opera House