Scott Lynch has been involved in local community theater for over 10 years and has performed with SVCT & Limelight. He lives in Gil- roy, attended Gilroy schools, and graduated from Stanford University with BS and MS degrees in Industrial Engineering. He is currently the president of South Valley Civic Theatre. Scott Lynch

outh Valley Civic Theater that all gathering places had to grapple THEATER scene (SVCT) was on a roll in 2020. with. “We shut it down,” Mandel said, This amazing year packed confident the organization made the in new productions, new best decision given the information producersS from diverse backgrounds, available—or not available, at the time. and the expansion of performances at “We refunded everyone.” Gilroy’s Limelight Theater —the space With that decision, South Valley they acquired in January and began Civic Theater came to a screeching halt. renovating soon after. The future looked All shows were cancelled. All rehearsals promising and the group was ready and stopped. The hammers and drills, able to take the reigns as South County’s saws and paint brushes—to that point premier theater company. actively building stages and props for upcoming shows—were all put down. March Madness; There was an eerie silence. We all felt it. Shelter in Place With no playbook and little clarity Like all small non-profit organizations regarding the implications of COVID- SVCT’s roll came to a hard pause when 19 and related mandates, SVCT—like news of shelter in place broke. They most small businesses and organiza- realized quickly that best laid plans can tions, sustained a crushing blow. Then, fail due to forces beyond one’s control. as all successful small businesses and As our communities recoiled into organizations do, SVCT took the hit their respective safe spaces and small like a seasoned prizefighter and quickly businesses, organizations, and agencies found their feet again. found themselves flat-footed, SVCT was “We have a small, nimble group of no exception. The all-volunteer group creative people. A few of us are drivers, had one week left of their successful, others are doers, and we all did the best sold-out, teen show “Rock of Ages” we could,” Mandel said. “I am proud of run. Their next shows, “Cabaret” (at the our tenacity and vision.” Morgan Hill Playhouse) and “Tigers Be Rising from the canvas, SVCT Still” (at Limelight in Gilroy) were in picked up their hammers and used rehearsal. Hard conversations and hard the opportunity to make lighting and decisions had to be made. design updates at Limelight Theater in “We could Gilroy. They purchased a green screen, have prob- new cameras and lighting—every- ably done thing needed to build a new sound the last show stage in their Morgan Hill warehouse. but decided There, they had ample room to begin to cancel,” production on a series of one-person Elizabeth readings and two-person plays, while Mandel, SVCT ensuring safe distancing protocols. They VP of Publicity began streaming their newly produced recalled, readings and plays online at no cost to citing the the public. For other online plays, they uncertainty of began filming from the now completely public safety renovated stage at Limelight, creating and the host simple sets as an alternative to using the of unknowns green screen. For still other productions

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they utilized Zoom and Facebook Live. the Mary Beth Anderson production of Everyone involved had to adjust, learn “The Night Before Christmas” featuring new techniques, and adapt to the new Rob Christopher as Santa Claus and reality of theater in the time of COVID. Avery Mace as Santa’s helper, available Adapt they did. online December 11-25. They left no Their first production, “Kalamazoo” doubt that a small group of tenacious was available for online viewing on and creative people with vision and July 10 and ran through July 12. The courage, can succeed even under the two-person, one act comedy featured worst circumstances. Roz Farotte as “Peg” and Peter Mandel SVCT relies almost exclusively on as “Irv” and told the story of two baby- ticket sales and sponsorships. With boomers looking for love a second time three-fourths of ticket sales lost in around. Next came “Bad Auditions… 2020, the group found some reprieve On Camera” a one-night only live through the Gilroy Foundation— performance featuring 19 SVCT actors receiving a grant sufficient to provide —streamed via Facebook Live on July for the lighting upgrades to the 26. Produced by Adrianne Wilkinson, Limelight Theater. Like most small Tiffany Goller and Mary Beth Anderson, non-profit organizations, what SVCT this interactive ensemble comedy about needs most is a public with the a casting director with one day to find vison for their cause—enhanced and an actor to fill a role—a seemingly expanded arts in South County, and simple task—invited viewers to vote for the tenacity to help make it happen. the actor most worthy of the role. “We went from a devastating “Tru” a one-person show adapted place of recoiling and reassessing to a from the works of Truman Capote, and place where we started creating and reprising Bill Tindall in his acclaimed connecting to audiences by learning 2016 representation of Capote, streamed new skills and using the technologies online August 28-30. “2 Across” a green available,” Mandel observed. For SVCT, screen production featuring Whitney the future, with all its uncertainties, Pintello and Charlie Gilmore, followed still looks bright. “Once we come out the 80-minute BART train ride where of this, we will be a theater company two opposites collide, engage, and are serving all of South County.” changed for the better—ran October That future includes live 9 through 11. On October 24, SVCT performances at the Limelight streamed a teen dance class online where Theater—an intimate setting redesigned participants learned a song from the for maximum audience experience, Disney hit musical “Newsies” under the including a full offering of libations and direction of Instructor / Choreographer bigger productions and musicals at the Christine Carrillo and Producer Trish Morgan Hill Playhouse. King. Staying in stride, the group Visit South Valley Civic Theater produced a youth dance class to the online at: svct.org to find informa- and follow them on social media… tune of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” tion about upcoming shows. Support and stay tuned. Soon, we will all be from the “Lion King” on December 5. this local gem of an organization enjoying live performances again. Until The class was held outdoors at the SVCT by catching their upcoming online then, SVCT will continue to do what warehouse with all social distancing and productions. If able, support their they do best—adapt, create, and thrive. protocols in place. efforts to keep the arts alive in South SVCT finished the year strong with County. Sign up for their newsletter Written By Elizabeth Mandel PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOUTH VALLEY CIVIC THEATER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOUTH VALLEY

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