Roof leaks not an act for Community Playhouse

By Erin Hawkins • July 4, 2018 1:30 am
Members of the Port Angeles Community Players, from back left, Richard Stephens, Barbara Frederick, Jahanna Stewart, Janet Lucas and Kathy Balducci, discovered multiple leaks coming from the roof of the Port Angeles Community Playhouse theater earlier this month. They anticipate the cost for repairs to come in at about $21,000. Sumbitted photo
Members of the Port Angeles Community Players, from back left, Richard Stephens, Barbara Frederick, Jahanna Stewart, Janet Lucas and Kathy Balducci, discovered multiple leaks coming from the roof of the Port Angeles Community Playhouse theater earlier this month. They anticipate the cost for repairs to come in at about $21,000. Sumbitted photo

The Port Angeles Community Playhouse, a building that serves as Port Angeles’ venue for theater shows and productions for 47 years, has a leaky roof that is in need of replacement.

After the Port Angeles Community Players (PACP) second stage production, “The Laramie Project” volunteers found several leaks coming from the ceiling, collecting in the theater’s chandelier and running off the light fixture. The leaks are above audience seating which is now covered with tarps for protection, fans set out to dry the carpet and Players routinely vacuum water off the roof daily.

Players said the initial estimated cost to replace the roof is about $21,000 and the organization is able to pay half of what is needed, leaving it to turn to the community for help.

“This building really belongs to the community who helped build it and continue to come here for entertainment, and now we need their help again,”Janet Lucas, PACP board president said in a press release.

The PACP is a 501(c)(3) organization that started in 1952 by Betty Sleeper and Audrey Hartnagel. For about 20 years, the group produced plays throughout the community, from the college’s Little Theater to the Elk’s Ballroom to Harrington’s Sky Room and more. With contributions from the community, the Playhouse was built in 1971.

“We’re asking the people who have supported our shows for 65 years to donate to help us with the $21,000 roof the building desperately needs” she said. “For an organization that has no debt, this is a tough one for us.”

Players said the Playhouse also experienced a plumbing leak earlier this year that resulted in the Playhouse re-plumbing the entire building, which took a big chunk out of the Player’s treasury.

“Having that necessity fixed and now to have the roof right on top of it, it was a little bit of a challenging year for us,” Lucas said.

Volunteers who normally build sets now double as maintenance people and when it comes to re-plumbing and re-roofing a commercial building, volunteers are not enough.

“Until this year, we’ve always been able to depend on the revenue of our shows in their regular season to provide for paying our bills and building maintenance,” Lucas said.

Players don’t anticipate the leaks will impact any shows this summer, but Lucas said the Children’s Theatre holds rehearsals several weeks before its performance in mid August and is hoping the roof is replaced before then. A local roofer has been contracted to replace the roof, Players said.

To donate to the Port Angeles Community Players, mail a check to P.O. Box 2807 Port Angeles, WA, 98362, or go to www.pacommunityplayers.com click on ‘tickets’ then ‘donations’.

For more information, call Janet Lucas at 360-461-1989.