Member Spotlight: Treasure Coast Theatre
The new theatre that opened in Port St. Lucie in April with On Golden Pond was the result of years of talking and dreaming and then another year of finding it a place to call home. Treasure Coast Theatre, Port St. Lucie’s only community theater, according to founders Rosemary Knight and Dawn Achin, is in the Town Centre Plaza, 10175 South Federal Hwy., Port St. Lucie. It seats 55, including four wheelchairs.
The location was the most challenging aspect of making it happen, Knight said. They needed a space large enough to accommodate seating, a stage, restrooms, and a large enough backstage area. On top of all that, it had to conform to fire and ADA codes. And then they had to get all the permits from the city. “It took over 2 years from start to finish,” Knight said.
It took a theatre family to take it down the homestretch. Knight gives credit to volunteers Brian Pecci, Jennifer Critchlow, David and Aviva Eales, Michael and Angela Knittel, Samantha Knight and Adam Grossnicklaus. “Until now, most of our volunteers are people we have worked with at previous theaters.”
Knight has been a “theatre geek” since her teen years, “earning a minor in theatre from Fordham University theatre program,” she said. She’s been involved in theater in several capacities in the Northeast and Florida, including running the summer camp program at the Barn Theatre in Stuart for two years.
This first season’s shows are what Knight and Achin call “passion projects,” plays they’ve always wanted to produce. The second season will be decided by a play reading committee that will determine which plays would appeal to their audience and can be easily produced on their stage.
Getting a late start made the first season a bit shorter than what’s ahead. The plan in future seasons is to produce 10 shows plus a holiday show. Also ahead, “shorter-run productions — such as Reader’s Theatre, Shakespeare, Children’s Workshop Productions, etc. We also plan to offer acting classes for children and adults. Beginning in 2020, we will also offer a summer theatre camp for kids ages 10-16.”
Visit treasurecoasttheatre.com, or call (772) 418-2439 for more information and to puchase tickets.
Written by: Willi Miller.
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