If you find yourself driving along 40th Avenue Southeast, you may notice some big changes on the North Mercer Campus. Throughout the month of June, Youth Theatre Northwest has been moving out of its facility. For the past several weeks, there’s been a parade of colorful costumes, theatrical set pieces and art supplies streaming out the door and headed to our interim site at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Yes, it’s the end of a long and golden era.
Our last day in the building will be June 29. Our “starter home” will be demolished and a brand new elementary school will be built in its place.
To learn more about our future plans for the Mercer Island Center for the Arts, visit MercerIslandArts.org. We will continue to provide high-quality theater education programs at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Islander Middle School and other sites. Building an interim theatre is expensive and complicated. Support our transition and ensure our youth will have a stage to perform on by donating at YouthTheatre.org.
Please join us for our final events as we approach the final countdown for our building. We hope you will attend a performance of Razia’s Shadow produced by the Young Experimental Theatre Institute. This dynamic rock-opera is directed, produced and performed by current YTN students and returning alumni. Immediately following Razia’s closing performance on Sunday, June 29, we invite you to join us for a celebratory and sentimental open house and event.
A community potluck will begin at 6 p.m. followed with a performance at 7 p.m. Alumni will perform some of their favorite moments on our stage, and everyone will be given the opportunity to leave their mark at YTN.
The event is free. However, seating is limited.Space may be reserved on our website at YouthTheatre.org. If we “sell out” we encourage you to still attend. The event is an Open House and there will be room for everyone. At 9:30 there will be an after-hours party.
Thank you Mercer Island Community for providing us a welcoming and supportive community for 30 years. We humbly ask for your ongoing support and advocacy throughout our transition. We assure you, the best is yet to come.
Manuel R. Cawaling
