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Citizen of the Year
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| Photo by Rick Myers Judy is on stage of the Little Theatre at Western Nebraska Community College as she opens the 2007 Broadway in the Bluffs fundraising event. |
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Judy Chaloupka has been through it all with Theatre West
By: RICK MYERS, Staff Reporter
Judy Chaloupka has been as much as much a part of Theatre West as the actors, technicians, directors and producers. It’s just that she doesn’t always want to be in the spotlight.
Well, that light is shining on her now as she has been named the 2008 Star-Herald Citizen of the Year, not only for her efforts with the local community repertory theatre but with the arts in general and the community as a whole.
Described by friends and family as energetic, creative, ever-vigilant, persistent, deserving, a wonderful gardener and determined, Judy has certainly left her mark on the community.
Her interests in the arts in general extend from the bygone Community Concerts series and theater productions in the Wildcat Hills to the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. She is credited with resurrecting an ailing Theatre West and working tirelessly to continue to bring summer repertory theatre to western Nebraska.
Her volunteer efforts are countless, including service to the West Nebraska Arts Center, Valley Voices, YMCA, Scottsbluff Public Schools and YMCA of Scottsbluff — to name a few.
She surrounds herself with family and friends and is always there in a time of need and is described as even being “a sort of practical encyclopedia.”
As she looked back at the past couple of years of Theatre West, Chaloupka said it has been a difficult time for making budget and admitted there may be uncertain times ahead in light of a slumping economy among other issues.
Unless one pulls back the curtain and peers behind the scenes, one may not know all of the intricacies involved in putting together a 10-week, three-production season. From securing actors who are willing to do part-time summer work, acquiring the rights of various productions or just dealing with the day-to-day activities and mini-crises that seem to always arise, Chaloupka has pretty much seen it all.
As with any worthwhile endeavor, fundraising is always an issue, and Theatre West is no different.
Chaloupka, who has been executive director of Theatre West since 1998, said there continues to be “wonderful continuous support from our patrons,” but more is always needed. There are just a limited number of community people who attend summer productions, Chaloupka said. Theatre West tries to accommodate the theatrical tastes of its 700 season ticket holders and 3,000 other patrons that might be expected to attended summer productions.
The arts, in general, seem to be struggling, Chaloupka said. “Theatre West, as well as other arts organizations, will continue to fight for production dollars.”
“As money gets tighter in this upcoming economy, there will be even less money to allocate to the performing and visual arts,” she said. “The era for arts patrons supporting arts and artists so that they can will flourish is long past.”
But, Chaloupka is fairly optimistic that Theatre West’s 20th season will happen.
A major fundraiser, the annual “Broadway In The Bluffs,” will bring together a list of Theatre West All-Stars who will entertain at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 in the Little Theatre on the campus of Western Nebraska Community College.
The 2008 season promises to be entertaining with “Altar Boyz,” May 27-30 and June 3-6, “Over the River and Through the Woods,” June 17-20 and 24-27, and the classic “South Pacific,” July 15-18 and 22-25.
“The upcoming season for Theatre West will be its 20th year of production,” Chaloupka said. “It has been a mostly ‘up’ experience, but there have been some frustrations in each year of activity since its conception. We have certainly ‘lived and learned’ as Theatre West has matured.”
“We have truly had a roller coaster string of events in the past 19 years of Theatre West. Most of them can be laughed at now,” she said.
Chaloupka said one thing she realized early on is that the community is tied to Theatre West from two different directions: those who love theatre and are drawn to the productions and those who know community members who are in the productions and want to see them perform.
Another thing Chaloupka has realized is that audiences seem to always want to be familiar with the productions.
Theatre West’s decrease in attendance the past two seasons is being seen across the board in theatre, as there is about a 30 percent drop nationwide.
“That, in itself, has not worried me, as I know that there are ups and downs when it comes to pleasing the audiences,” Chaloupka said. “We have had wonderful company members, and they have made it very special for all involved.”
Asked to gaze into her crystal ball and foretell the future of Theatre West, Chaloupka said it would be wonderful if it could find a large variety of actors and singers who are community residents.
“If we only needed collegiate actors and singers who also do our tech work, we would have no problems as long as we can continue to pay them,” Chaloupka said. “But we need actors and singers of all ages for each of our productions.”
So many young people who have starred in high school productions grow up and still live in the community but have not auditioned for Theatre West productions.
“We realize that it is a commitment, but new faces, both on stage and off stage are a necessity to keep our productions fresh,” Chaloupka said. “One thing that TW can offer is the opportunity to bring in several family members into a production so that it can be a family affair.”
As with so many community activities, there is a limit as to what a small group of the same people can or are willing to do.
Theatre West needs a variety of people from the area who are interested in volunteering for the organization.
Those who attend the fundraisers, including the annual Garden Walk, come from every walk of life, Chaloupka said, and there may be those who might be willing to serve on the Theatre West board.
“We need people who are dedicated to keeping the theatre alive for our community,” Chaloupka said. “These could be people who sew, do carpentry, have computer skills, have available time to work in the Box Office or have specialized theatre skills.”
Just by getting those folks as volunteers, Theatre West could cut its production costs.
“I can’t see the end of Theatre West from here, but because of our county’s economy and because of the many changes in our lives, we could certainly become tenuous,” Chaloupka said. “Each season is stimulating for all of us involved with Theatre West because of the vitality that comes from live theater and from the participants.”
Well, that light is shining on her now as she has been named the 2008 Star-Herald Citizen of the Year, not only for her efforts with the local community repertory theatre but with the arts in general and the community as a whole.
Described by friends and family as energetic, creative, ever-vigilant, persistent, deserving, a wonderful gardener and determined, Judy has certainly left her mark on the community.
Her interests in the arts in general extend from the bygone Community Concerts series and theater productions in the Wildcat Hills to the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. She is credited with resurrecting an ailing Theatre West and working tirelessly to continue to bring summer repertory theatre to western Nebraska.
Her volunteer efforts are countless, including service to the West Nebraska Arts Center, Valley Voices, YMCA, Scottsbluff Public Schools and YMCA of Scottsbluff — to name a few.
She surrounds herself with family and friends and is always there in a time of need and is described as even being “a sort of practical encyclopedia.”
As she looked back at the past couple of years of Theatre West, Chaloupka said it has been a difficult time for making budget and admitted there may be uncertain times ahead in light of a slumping economy among other issues.
Unless one pulls back the curtain and peers behind the scenes, one may not know all of the intricacies involved in putting together a 10-week, three-production season. From securing actors who are willing to do part-time summer work, acquiring the rights of various productions or just dealing with the day-to-day activities and mini-crises that seem to always arise, Chaloupka has pretty much seen it all.
As with any worthwhile endeavor, fundraising is always an issue, and Theatre West is no different.
Chaloupka, who has been executive director of Theatre West since 1998, said there continues to be “wonderful continuous support from our patrons,” but more is always needed. There are just a limited number of community people who attend summer productions, Chaloupka said. Theatre West tries to accommodate the theatrical tastes of its 700 season ticket holders and 3,000 other patrons that might be expected to attended summer productions.
The arts, in general, seem to be struggling, Chaloupka said. “Theatre West, as well as other arts organizations, will continue to fight for production dollars.”
“As money gets tighter in this upcoming economy, there will be even less money to allocate to the performing and visual arts,” she said. “The era for arts patrons supporting arts and artists so that they can will flourish is long past.”
But, Chaloupka is fairly optimistic that Theatre West’s 20th season will happen.
A major fundraiser, the annual “Broadway In The Bluffs,” will bring together a list of Theatre West All-Stars who will entertain at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 in the Little Theatre on the campus of Western Nebraska Community College.
The 2008 season promises to be entertaining with “Altar Boyz,” May 27-30 and June 3-6, “Over the River and Through the Woods,” June 17-20 and 24-27, and the classic “South Pacific,” July 15-18 and 22-25.
“The upcoming season for Theatre West will be its 20th year of production,” Chaloupka said. “It has been a mostly ‘up’ experience, but there have been some frustrations in each year of activity since its conception. We have certainly ‘lived and learned’ as Theatre West has matured.”
“We have truly had a roller coaster string of events in the past 19 years of Theatre West. Most of them can be laughed at now,” she said.
Chaloupka said one thing she realized early on is that the community is tied to Theatre West from two different directions: those who love theatre and are drawn to the productions and those who know community members who are in the productions and want to see them perform.
Another thing Chaloupka has realized is that audiences seem to always want to be familiar with the productions.
Theatre West’s decrease in attendance the past two seasons is being seen across the board in theatre, as there is about a 30 percent drop nationwide.
“That, in itself, has not worried me, as I know that there are ups and downs when it comes to pleasing the audiences,” Chaloupka said. “We have had wonderful company members, and they have made it very special for all involved.”
Asked to gaze into her crystal ball and foretell the future of Theatre West, Chaloupka said it would be wonderful if it could find a large variety of actors and singers who are community residents.
“If we only needed collegiate actors and singers who also do our tech work, we would have no problems as long as we can continue to pay them,” Chaloupka said. “But we need actors and singers of all ages for each of our productions.”
So many young people who have starred in high school productions grow up and still live in the community but have not auditioned for Theatre West productions.
“We realize that it is a commitment, but new faces, both on stage and off stage are a necessity to keep our productions fresh,” Chaloupka said. “One thing that TW can offer is the opportunity to bring in several family members into a production so that it can be a family affair.”
As with so many community activities, there is a limit as to what a small group of the same people can or are willing to do.
Theatre West needs a variety of people from the area who are interested in volunteering for the organization.
Those who attend the fundraisers, including the annual Garden Walk, come from every walk of life, Chaloupka said, and there may be those who might be willing to serve on the Theatre West board.
“We need people who are dedicated to keeping the theatre alive for our community,” Chaloupka said. “These could be people who sew, do carpentry, have computer skills, have available time to work in the Box Office or have specialized theatre skills.”
Just by getting those folks as volunteers, Theatre West could cut its production costs.
“I can’t see the end of Theatre West from here, but because of our county’s economy and because of the many changes in our lives, we could certainly become tenuous,” Chaloupka said. “Each season is stimulating for all of us involved with Theatre West because of the vitality that comes from live theater and from the participants.”
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