PUBLISHED ON December 11, 2008
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YAKIMA, Wash. - This weekend "Sweeney Todd" comes to The Capitol Theatre as the latest installment of the "Best of Broadway" series, it is another example of how the town's strong stage presence continues to improve.
Big Broadway shows have been coming to Yakima for 30 years. For a town of this size, the ability to maintain a successful theatre scene year after year is unique.
Steve Caffery is the CEO of The Capitol Theatre and says Yakima is one of the best theatre towns he has ever worked in after 20 years in the business.
"It's really thriving here, it's thriving because of the values and heritage of community who want that as part of their fundamental quality of life" said Caffery.
Caffery says the Capitol is capable of supporting a community more than ten times larger than Yakima county. Each year, the theatre hosts over 130 events with more than 100,000 visitors. This week the Enchantment Theatre Company's tour of the Velveteen Rabbit is playing at the theatre.
Colleen Hughes is a member of that cast and has been in big and small communities throughout her career. She says there is something more authentic about performing in places like Yakima.
"I feel as though smaller towns and even smaller cities are some of the most amazing places for theatre," said Hughes. "A lot of times theatre communities that grow in those areas are built on people who are really excited about the art, as opposed to just about being famous and making tons of money."
The Theatre's leadership believes it is the time for the Capitol to expand. Their plan includes improvements to the current theatre as well as a new black box theatre, which would be a 400-seat venue housing smaller productions. It would be built right behind the existing theatre.
"It is really designed to sustain what we have built," Caffery said. "Our audiences are going to be able to see the full shows that they have paid for and right now they can't because the productions are too big to fit them all on stage."
Tickets are still available for all "Sweeney Todd" performances this weekend at the Theatre's box office or website. For more information, visit www.capitoltheatre.org.
