Ignite Community Theatre plans outreach, enrichment

Rebecca Cook was heavily involved in theater at Central Valley High School. After graduation, she went on to Spokane Falls Community College and then to Eastern Washington University to earn a bachelor’s degree in theater.

At 28, she now serves as artistic director for Spokane’s newest theater group, Ignite Community Theatre.

Emerging after a dispute among Civic Theatre members, Ignite brought a fresh beginning.

“Our goal is to enrich the community by bringing theater to the community,” said Cook,

Less than a year old, Ignite Community Theatre is a nonprofit organization with a 13-member board. Among Ignite’s goals is educational outreach.

Ignite’s living history program uses historical theater pieces to teach in ways that a history book cannot.

Patricia Paisley, an actress in a recent production, said, “With theater, there is no true separation between the audience and the actors. The interaction enables the audience to become a part of something far removed from their daily lives.

“What better way is there to experience and learn?”

Last month, the group performed excerpts from “Romantic Comedy in the Middle Ages” at the Central Valley High School Performing Arts Centre. The audience consisted of Central Valley high school students and staff.

Teacher Elaine Fotland checked off names as 100 of her students found their seats. When asked why, above and beyond her hectic schedule, she took the time to bring her students in for the show, she replied, “Enrichment.”

“Romantic Comedy in the Middle Ages” included excerpts from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the adaptation of a short story by Mark Twain, and a monologue describing “The Etiquette of Love,” created by Kaarin Meredith and Renae Meredith.

“It was more realistic to me because not all of the actors were adults,” said Jordan Doak, a student in Fotland’s pre-AP English class. “Some of the actors seemed closer to my age, and I felt more involved because of that.

“I also learned about marriages in those times, and that was cool.”

This month, Ignite will be taking the Mark Twain piece to Tacoma to participate in the Washington Association of Community Theaters’ Kaleidoscope Festival.

Besides the living history program, Ignite also teaches theater classes to children and plans on pursuing adult theater and technical classes.

“No one in the area teaches those things – set building, stage makeup, lights and costuming,” Cook said.

The theater supports itself with fund-raising, drama classes and shows. Nothing is yet officially planned, but a four-show season is in the works for next year.

Besides the classics, modern pieces will be included.

They don’t have a home yet. For the time being, the group will use whatever facility is donated to it for any given event.

“We would love to have a home,” says Cook, “but outreach is our number one priority.”

Caryn Hoagland, a professional theater actress, volunteers for Ingnite’s productions.

“It’s a lot of work, starting from the ground up, but it’s a great chance to get back into what theater is all about. … We are here for the love of giving art to the community.”

Many of the actors involved in Ignite found their roles in its latest production through newspaper ads.

“There are not many venues in Spokane for amateurs,” Paisley said. “Most of the theaters only give roles to proven professional actors. Anyone can audition for Ignite.”