Solano Creative Arts

A Letter from our Directors’
February 24, 2009

Dear Friends,

Normally, at this time of year we would be kicking off our annual appeal.  This letter would tell you about our exciting season, the wonderful work of our students and the amazing talent and dedication of our faculty and staff.  It would also be asking you for a donation.  This year has not really been normal for any of us, and it’s probably not a good time to ask for money, so we are not going to.  We are going to ask for your support.

As you may be aware, Solano Community College is facing an uncertain future in regards to its budget.  It currently has a significant structural deficit and the administration, in partnership with the faculty, staff and the Board of Trustees, is exploring options for reducing expenses.  One of the proposals presented to the Board as an option would eliminate funding to the Solano College Theatre Association (which acts as our employer) and prevent us from using apportionment (the state funding mechanism based on student enrollment) generated by our classes for our operating expenses.  Another proposal would eliminate the Community Services program. Taken together, these actions would make it virtually impossible to mount fully-staged productions of the plays and musicals for which Solano College Theatre and Solano Youth Theatre are known.  In fact, it is questionable whether we would be able to stage performances at all.  No other department’s classes or programs were targeted for such cuts.

All of us involved in the theatre at Solano College are wholeheartedly in support of the college’s efforts to reach solid and sustainable financial footing.  We are committed to doing our part, but we believe that any solution needs to be equitable and take into consideration all of the contributions of a program.  We are working on a restructuring plan to make our programs both more cost-effective and more attractive to the community.  We understand and embrace our responsibility to simultaneously reduce costs and increase enrollment in all theatre programs.  We firmly believe that the best way for us to do this is to continue to produce high quality shows which engage our students and the community.  We believe that our programs are a gateway into Solano College for students.  If you agree, we ask that you contact your representative on the Board of Trustees, as well as the SCC administration and your local media to express your support for the arts, arts education and live theatre in Solano County.

We have included contact information and some important points to think about when discussing Solano College Theatre and Solano Youth Theatre. Thank you very much for your consideration and for the support which you have so generously given us in the past.  It has been a pleasure to work in and serve this community.

Sincerely,

Chris Guptill
Managing Director

George Maguire
Artistic Director

Important facts about Solano College Theatre and Solano Youth Theatre:

• Graduates of SCT have gone on to such prestigious institutions as Harvard, Juilliard, NYU, Columbia University, UCLA, USC, and numerous UC and CSU campuses.
• SCT students have enjoyed successful careers in the theatre (on Broadway and national tours), film and television, education, business and the military. Our graduates include local high school theatre instructors, performing arts professionals and a current pilot of Air Force 2 (for Vice President Biden).  They tell us that whatever their career path, SCT helped them achieve success.
• More than 550 students were enrolled in Theatre Department and theatre-related Community Services courses in the fall semester.
• During our 2007-08 season, more than 21,000 people attended an SCT or SYT performance, generating nearly $220,000.
• The 2008-09 season has already had more than 10,000 audience members and earned nearly $100,000 in ticket revenue.
• We are the most-honored performing arts group in Solano County, with dozens of Artys (Solano), Ellys (Sacramento) and Dramalogue (entire Bay Area) Awards.
• Solano Youth Theatre provides low-cost, high-quality after school enrichment and arts education to nearly 600 students annually in addition to offering 12 student matinee performances to the county’s K-12 schools.

Solano Community College Board of Trustees:

Tom Henry
Special Trustee
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Fairfield, CA 94534-3197
(707) 864-7000, ext. 4454
FAX (707) 864-7213
E-mail: Tom.Henry@solano.edu

James M. Glaffey
Special Trustee
Area 2 – Fairfield, Travis AFB,
Cordelia, Green Valley
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Fairfield, CA 94534-3197
(707) 428-3407
E-mail: Jim.Claffey@solano.edu

Denis Honeychurch, J.D. – Vice President
Area 2 – Fairfield, Travis AFB,
Cordelia, Green Valley
823 Jefferson Street, Suite C
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 429-3111
E-mail: Denis.Honeychurch@solano.edu

Pam Keith
Area 3 – Vallejo
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Fairfield, CA 94534-3197
(707) 864-7112
E-mail: Pam.Keith@solano.edu

Stephen Murphy, J.D.
Area 1 – Vacaville, Dixon, Winters
3500 Harbison Drive
Apartment 834
Vacaville, CA 95687
(707) 514-5182
E-mail: Stephen.Murphy@solano.edu

Phil McCaffrey
Area 1 – Vacaville, Dixon, Winters
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Fairfield, CA 94534
(707) 365-1126
E-mail: Phil.McCaffrey@solano.edu

A. Marie Young – President
Area 3 – Vallejo
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Fairfield, CA 94534-3197
(707) 552-6480
E-mail: AMarie.Young@solano.edu

Rosemary Thurston
Area 4 – Benicia, Vallejo, Suisun
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Fairfield, CA 94534-3197
(707) 643-2450
E-mail: strustee@solano.edu