(By ARIEL FISHER)
Vandals hit the Sam Bass Theatre in Round Rock in October and early November, but the community clapped back with overwhelming support and generosity for the small venue through donations and volunteering.
The theater’s successful GoFundMe campaign surpassed its $1,500 goal with more than $1,800 in donations received via the crowdfunding platform. At the SBTA November board and member meeting, Kerry Koward, the non-profit’s treasurer, said that several community members also sent checks directly to the theater bringing the total of tax-deductible donations received to over $3,000.
A community mainstay since 1973, the micro-theater is tucked away in a wooded corner of Memorial Park in Round Rock at 600 N. Lee St. It is a quaint venue with a rich history dating back to the early 1920s when an old railroad house sat on the land. Some architecture has been torn down, other parts have been updated, but the history is there.
Typically the theater is quiet outside of rehearsals and weekend performances of family-friendly shows, musicals, as well as both timeless classics and more obscure theatrical masterpieces; however, an aging fence with a damaged gate left an easy entrance for an ill-intentioned cast of vandals to put on a performance that would leave the exterior of the theater in disrepair.
The vandals entered the theater’s courtyard through a broken fence and sprayed gang related symbols, shattered glass and made a mess of outdoor props and furniture. They repeatedly tried to enter the locked buildings and storage sets which triggered the theater’s alarm system, alerting John Guerra, SBTA president, who informed the rest of the board via a group message.
Three separate incidences occurred, and an arrest was made. At the meeting Guerra said that the Round Rock Police Department did not confirm whether or not the arrest was connected to the original incident.
Community members outside of the elected officials were present and involved in the meeting’s proceedings. Kerry Koward introduced Lewis Wagner, a Round Rock resident who is a member of the American Association of Community Theatre and has spent decades working with non-profits.
Koward informed the board that the theater had received the largest single donation he is aware it ever receiving. Wagner and his wife very graciously donated $1,000 to the theatre to recoup some of the damages caused by the vandalism.
Wagner said that every year he and his wife donate to a different cause, and after they read the SBTA email newsletter, they were deeply saddened and immediately knew that this year they wanted to help the theater. He was also quick to offer his time anywhere that it could be useful from building sets to helping with tax filing.
Other members of the community were also moved by the news that the community’s beloved performance venue had been ransacked and graffitied.
The theater’s GoFundMe campaign received funds from 40 different donors, many of them offering well-wishes, fond memories and offers to help with repairs on the campaign’s web page.
Leslie Keeler wrote, “This is a value added to our community, worth saving and investing.”
Another donor, Kelly Lewis wrote, ”This community theatre is what dreams are made of[…] We are saddened by the callousness of others that destroyed what you all work hard for. We support you!”
The Sam Bass Theatre Association board members discussed the donations received and determined that there are several things that need to be done to the theater that will occur in waves over the next several months and throughout the new year.
The first step is to completely repaint the exterior of the building and replace fencing along the side of the compound. The theater also intends to increase security around the property with a camera system, while the damaged and destroyed props will be replaced as needed.
In the meantime, volunteer Nick Wigg has already covered most of the graffiti and the theater was still able to bring holiday cheer to the community with two holiday-themed shows in late December.
