I’ve pretty much done all you can do as a volunteer at this Theatre.  We moved to San Juan Island after I retired from the San Jose Police Department in 1978.  Two years later, my wife, Anita (who is a frequent costume designer/volunteer) and Susan Williams convinced me to help build the set for Carousel when plays were at the Royal Theatre in town.   I’ve probably worked on 60-70 productions since then and have done as many as six shows in a year.  I’ve been a set designer, led and been on set construction crews, a lighting designer, a sound board operator and have also acted.

My father was a really good wood worker and when I was growing up I was always helping him build things.  I think out of all of my volunteering at the Theatre, I’ve enjoyed set designing and building the best.  It gets my imagination going and I always get a lot of satisfaction out of it. Plus, over the years, I’ve made some great friends.  I’ve worked with some of these guys on sets for more than ten years.  I led the construction for last Spring’s My Fair Lady.  It was a very complicated set and every one of those people who helped with construction came up with great ideas--it was a real team effort.

We always need more volunteers for that team.  My advice to people thinking of participating is to not wait around and “JUST DO IT!”