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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Leaders Restored Event To Life, Fun

As the debunked palace magician told Wesley’s worried friends in “The Princess Bride,” there’s a big difference between being “all dead” and “mostly dead.”

A miracle can revive the “mostly dead.”

But the only thing left to do for the “all dead” is to go through his clothes and look for loose change.

The Festival at Sandpoint seemed “all dead” at the beginning of the year. It had $18 in its checkbook - and a debt of $125,000. A summer of rain, dismal ticket sales and little-known performers had sunk the 1996 season. On top of that, festival organizers were beaten up and frustrated by the constant battle with debt and angry neighbors.

At the time, the general consensus of the board was: “This isn’t possible to do; we are so far behind.”

As it turned out, however, the festival, like Wesley, was only “mostly dead.” Miraculously, the popular concert series has bounced back this summer by scaling back performances and returning to the music mix that earned it Inland Northwest renown: classical music, blues and jazz.

Much of the credit for the transformation can be laid at the feet of new Executive Director Diane Ragsdale, festival President Dave Slaughter and Coldwater Creek. Ragsdale and Slaughter refused to give in to doubt, worry and red ink. Coldwater Creek donated $100,000 to underwrite the festival. This, on top of the $75,000 the Sandpoint mail order catalogue company contributed last year.

Ragsdale set the tone for the year in mid-January, after she was named executive director following the surprise resignation of her predecessor: “The board of directors and staff at the festival have some long hours ahead,” she said. “But I have every intention and faith that we will not only overcome the challenges we are facing but thrive as we move in the (next) season.”

Of course, faith without work is dead. She, Slaughter and other organizers went to work. They made hard business decisions without sacrificing the essence of the festival. The number of shows offered was cut from the usual dozen or so to eight, over two weekends instead of three. Crowds were limited to 2,500 to recapture the intimacy with performers and appease Memorial Field’s grumpy neighbors. Symphony performances, which are expensive to stage and poorly attended, were limited to one.

The blend of common sense, good marketing and enthusiasm resonated in the community. Excitement replaced cynicism. Patrons snapped up season passes. And even the weather cooperated.

The sellout crowd of 2,500 that greeted the Doobie Brothers on opening night was final proof that the festival was very much alive. And fun again.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board