Support for this program is provided by the Weldon F Osborne Foundation.

The Schillhahn-Huskey Foundation.

And viewers like you.

Thank you.

On today's show will feature two of the region's most cherished cultural institutions, both foster education and community engagement, ensuring that the arts continue to thrive for generations to come.

We're stronger together, Chattanooga.

So stay tuned to learn more.

Welcome to Chattanooga.

Stronger together.

I'm Barbara marder.

Joining us today is Rodney Van Valkenburg, executive director o the Chattanooga Theater Center.

The Chattanooga Theater Center is where the community comes together, experiencing the power of storytelling.

Rodney, welcome.

I'm so glad you're here.

Let's just start of what's the history of the Chattanooga Theater Center?

Well, we're over 100 years old.

We were founded in 19 2301.

Oh that's right.

That's right.

We're going to 502nd season here now.

We were founded as the Little theater.

A lot of people still call us a local theater, and we're honored.

Didn't appreciate that, but we changed to the Chattanoog Theater Center a few years ago.

But back in 1923, the Memorial Auditorium was also being built.

And upstairs in what is now the Walker Theate used to be the little theater.

So they had the first performances of the Chattanoog Little Theater was actually in the Memorial Auditorium.

And it was founded as any community theater by the community members who understood the power of coming together to do the arts, to experience a common project to play, to put productions on.

So that's where it started in 1923.

Eli Chapman, who also was involved with founding the library as well, was very interested in intro a goal of creating the theater, the beginnings of the theater back in 1923.

So fast forward just a little bit.

The Great Depression, World War two.

Yeah.

You guys were, not you, but the theater center was still open and operational.

That's right.

So one of the unique things about the Chattanooga Theater Center is that we're one of the longest continuing theaters in the country, especially in the southeast, because some theaters did stop during the depression and stopped during World War two, and some stopped during Covid even.

But really, we've been continuing, performances every season.

We had a short break durin Covid, but we came right back.

We stopped in April and started doing productions again in October with socially distanced performances and all that during Covid.

We don't want to go back there, but, we're glad to have survived.

And you know, the succes of any organization, nonprofit that's been around for 100 years is the volunteer leadership.

That's how you succeed by having strong leaders who look after, your organization are passionate about your organization.

And we've had that kind of great volunteer leadership for over 100 years.

Yeah.

And the thing of it is when we were speaking earlier, I ask you, you know, how many volunteers you had and you said, you know, 800 plus.

And I'm like, what?

How can any nonprofit have 800 plus?

And I love your explanation.

It was they're the ones that are bringing the plays.

They're the ones that are acting in the plays.

They're the ones that are doing the storytelling.

You're just creating this structure for the to express themselves.

Correct.

So some community theaters are all volunteer, and they have no professional staff.

And they come together to do the kind of a pioneer spirit of putting plays together.

But at the theater center, we've evolved for over $1.5 million operation every year.

So we're a a corporate type of community theater where through professional leadership, we guide the volunteers in creating the art, creating the theater, creating the plays.

And there's so many opportunities.

And people certainly say that all the volunteers on stage, all the actors on stage are our volunteers, but also all the running crews are volunteers, the people we have professional leadership and arts scene shop to help build the sets and build the costumes, but also ushering things you might not think about to, make sure that the concessions, are operating smoothly.

We have concession workers and ushers and, oh, it does definitely takes a village to put our productions on.

Some people say, well, 1 or 2 at a performance, I realize, well, you know, we have to have 50 volunteers to say they're available to add a performance, for instance.

So, there are so many people on stage and backstage and the front of house for every single performance.

So it adds up very quickly.

Have over 800 volunteers.

So basically there is a place for anyone.

Yes.

At the theater at any level to any level.

And we have this great facility right next to College Park.

And it's 43,000ft and we have a Saint shop and we have a costume shop.

So whether you're experienc in the theater arts or will say, hey, I'd like to try it and any aspect or or taking a class, and exploring, acting to testing to see if you have the, acting, skills to be in a show o working backstage and any side.

So we provide opportunities in all areas of the production of theater.

That's amazing.

So, we, the audience, the community, you know, we know abou the plays and things like that.

Tell me.

Educate me on what you would like the community to know that we probably don't know.

Well, that's a great question because people know us for our productions, our musicals that are very popular, shows on mainstage, our youth theater, which has been outstanding for over 40 years.

But what people may not be where's our educational programs?

Because we don't advertise those because, as as much because, they're they're very targeted.

So, for instance we have a new touring, company.

It's the one the only time we pay our actors because they're going out during the daytime.

We've created original shows for two year olds through six year olds, pre the pre-K, and these are educational shows are theater for the very young.

And they go out and go into pre care preschool daycare daycare.

So that, that's right.

And but also we hav we started a really cool program in partnership with UTC, working with their, neurodiverse students that they have found that their students are succeedin academically, but, have trouble blend into the workforce getting the job.

So the social aspect.

So theater, by its nature, is a very safe environmen to explore everyday situations.

And the comfortable, safe, space.

And so we'r bringing that to these students.

And it's a pilot program that's at UTC.

And we're hoping to expand i really throughout the UT system.

So you have something for seniors?

Yeah, that's what we're looking at.

Yeah.

What's interesting we are so busy when it hits 430.

After school, after work, we are jam packed.

Our schedule, we're a huge, building with lots of rooms, but they're all used with the classes and all that, so.

But during the daytime, it's kind of quiet.

So one of the things that we want to expand take advantage of our space.

And also there's a real need of embracing seniors.

So we're starting, senior programs to be look forward to begin to develop.

How can these seniors, do productions, plays, classes just come together socially, to be together.

And that's something that we really want to grow, in the next few years.

I love that.

I love it because you're no going to put us out to pasture.

We still have some usefulness left.

Exactly.

That's true.

So.

And then, in the summer, you're really busy too, aren't you?

Yes, we have summer academies.

They're very popular to have, these, summer camps.

Summer.

What we call the summer academies to learn about the theater arts from June to the first week of August.

And those are very, very popular and fill up, very quickly.

But, there's always space available.

And our education programs.

Do you actually, you know, you were talking about the, the K through, six year old, do you do anything else in like, the middle schools or the elementary schools or the high schools?

Do you go to them or do you have, special programs?

Well, we do in the Hamilton County schools.

Well, not so much.

What's great about the program is that we bring people from Hamilton County schools, privat schools, schools from the area.

So it's a real melting po of young people, of volunteers to come and join them.

So they come to you, so they come to us.

Yeah.

So we're, typically people, come to us for our our program is at the theater center at the North Shore.

But Theater Quest, we have a great program called Theate Quest for high school students.

And they've been really it's exploded this year.

They've been creating their own plays, original, play festival.

They did a 24 hour play festival where they have 24 hours to write and produce out and and then perform these plays.

And it's a great it's very strong, active over 20 plus, high school students, they come together with this common interest of really showin their creativity and originality through their productions.

So, so how do the the high school kids find out about thi or how to participate in this?

I mean, you know, we can g to your website and everything, but is it by referral, other kids talking about it?

Oh, I was in it last year This is really good this year.

Or is it just something that parents are like, you need to get in there?

Yeah it's a little bit of everything.

Yeah.

So I have one, parent even call me up.

She said, oh, thank you so much.

My son is really.

This has been great.

And so was her encouragement is, hey, why don't you try this out?

And her son was, went to it and is like, this is like life changin because they found their people.

You know that's one thing about theater.

And new people have maybe had some theater background experience.

They look people, look for th people, look for their people.

And, the theater, it really draws people on all sides, the theater and weather, no matter what age they are that you're looking for, that bond of people have this common interest, we have about a minute left.

Why is it important that we, that we have the theater.

theate is a very communal experience.

We're always a need to get out of our house and be with other people so that going out of the hous and being in an audience, it's just different to experienc a live play with other people, whether you know them or not, people you know, it's a different experience that's sitting at your home.

Same thing with being in a play.

Again, being a community theater, it's it's it's fascinating that, well, one of our recent stage manage just retired as a neurosurgeon, and there he is.

So as he has bee a professional neurosurgeon and and he's working with young professionals or plumbers or students, and you know, so it's that diverse, even playing field, that you're all there for the common good of doing, theater or being in the classroom or what have you.

So those are, really key of what we're doing.

And, and we look to how can we expand that in the future to, to keep looking a how can we serve the community.

And I think the most important thing is they're having fun.

Exactly And that's what it's all about.

At the end of the day you have a smile on your face, you feel good and you have those endorphins going.

And so, yeah, it's perfect that way.

Lonnie, thank you so much for coming.

Well, thanks so muc for having me and shared with me all the great things that the Chattanooga Theater Center is doing.

Yeah.

Come visit us.

Yeah, I will, I will, I'll do that.

Up next, we'll have Paul Powers from Chattanooga Symphony and Opera.

Stay with us.

We want to know how you serve your community.

Send us photos or videos of you or your family volunteering, and we may feature it on a future episode.

Email stronger@wtcitv.org or use the hashtag STRONGERWTCI on social media.

Welcome back.

We're joined by Paul Powers, director of development at Chattanooga Symphony and Opera.

The CSO entertains audiences with a variety of musical performances, including opera, timeless symphonies, and new pieces by contemporary composers.

There is something for every music lover.

Welcome, Paul.

I'm so glad you're on the show today.

Yes.

Thank you for having me, I appreciate it.

Yeah.

So tell me, when did CSO actually get started in Chattanooga?

Yeah so we had our founding in 1933.

The original music director o the of the CSO brought together some local adult musicians, but then also brought together some high school students.

Which was a really interesting collaborative process of bringing together these generational, you know, music lovers and performers together to create the original creation of the CSO.

And it was really this grassroots effort of people within our community embracing their creativity and their talents to come together to create an ensemble that was able to perform, chamber works in smaller pieces.

And then over time, as the symphony grew, and became larger and had more support and more of an audience that came to to its concerts, they were able to expand their rap and grow even more.

And and in the 80s, we were able to combine with a local opera troupe here.

And that's when we added opera into our name, become the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Company.

And ever since then, we've been expanding our programing and growing over time and integrating deeper relationships with the community and with people here.

And it's been it's been an amazing time.

But yeah, 1933 all the way to now.

It's just an amazing growth, you know, timeline.

We've been under and, the long history here in Chattanooga.

Definitely.

And it's interesting too, because the 20s and 30s, the people were really into that type of entertainment in coming together because that's building.

Another community, whether you are one of the performers or whether you're in the audience enjoying it and everything.

It's finding others of like, minds that, you know, you have you have your work friends, you have your social friends, and now you've got your theater or your your symphony and your opera friends and everything, like that.

So I love and the social skills are being developed too.

I love that.

So what are some of, the programs?

I know we're on your website, and I know there's a plethora of all these things that you guys are involved in, which I was not aware of.

I thought it was jus the symphony and just the opera.

But So kind of run me through some of those programs and expand on some of them.

Absolutely, yeah.

You know, we like to pride ourselves on creating programs that is listening to our audience and listening to the community and is being responsive to what people in our community are asking for.

So, of course, as a, you know, symphonic organization, we have those classical series pieces.

We have those big symphonic works, things that people kind of automatically imagine when the thing that they think of a symphony.

And those are happening throughout the year.

But then we also offer what we like to call a pops or an extra series.

And those are more contemporary works, more collaborative things that we're doing with, maybe more, contemporary composers or contemporary artists and trying to try to combine and meld the classical world with some of the more modern instruments and more of modern composers and musicians and things like that.

We also have a broad range o educational pieces that we do.

We have young performer concerts that take place, which, bring anywher from 5000 to 6000 students here locally to com and see a classical performance and engage with music.

They're able to be at the live performances and do everything from doing column responses with our symphony to composing music on the spo and being part of this process and learning that they have this amazing creative spirit within themselves, no matter what age.

And it's third and fourth graders.

So at that age, they're just sponges and they're soaking everything up.

So that's a really grea program we're really proud of.

We also do free family concerts out in the community at different places where we collaborate with Chattanooga Theater Center and a couple of other organization to make those things possible.

And we have just a plethora of different things that take place on that area.

And then we have, some even young professional items that we push out for our 20, 30 and 40 year old audience.

And Chattanooga is growing, you know, population.

There's a lot of people movin here from all over the country.

And as they're moving into this city, we are constantly evolving and trying to make sure that our programing aligns with things they may have experienced in the places that they came from.

And then when they're coming here, we're providing a really welcoming, accepting space where they come into and they feel like they can, like you were saying, connect with the community.

They can connect with other young people, other people that have a lov for just being with other people in a shared space or just a love for music.

And we're really excited to be able to create those experiences for people and makin sure they feel welcomed with us.

Well, and I think it's also important to, schools have kicked out arts, and we all know if art, in whatever form it is, stimulates a certain part of your brain.

And I may love symphony, but I may not care for opera or vice versa.

But you have a little bit for everybody.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong.

Do you not?

Or did you?

Not in the past, have this where you played musical?

What was it?

The soundtracks from different movies and things like that.

Yeah, that was so much fun.

I absolutely love that.

Because you're like, you start playing it and you're like, oh, I know who that is.

I know what that is.

I watch that movie and everything.

It's just it's amazing.

So I want to kind of go back to, the third and fourth graders.

So they're bringing busses in to the, where you're located at and everything that the downtown, But the teachers actually have a curriculum that goes with that.

So it' not just bringing the kids for, oh, look, we've got a school trip, you know but it's actually taking them.

And then they're coming back in the classroom and then applying what they've learned, which I think is really cool.

It is.

Yeah.

You know, that program is a collaboratio between us and the Metropolitan, Music Institute with a program called Linked Up and that, integrates a program with, what the students are learning so that when they come to that concert, they already kind of have a, a trail to learn of knowledge tha they're bringing into the space.

And then we're building upon that in a shared space where they're with other students from different schools, from all over the county.

And they're dancing, they're, engaging with the music.

Things that they've already heard.

And so they come into i with a little bit of knowledge, and then they leave with even a greater sense of what this music is, how it interacts with one another.

And so yeah, we're very proud of that.

And being able to work with local, you know, the local school systems and things like that to really build on what the young people are learning in those schools and, you know, in those classrooms so that they're able to jus kind of build on that knowledge as they move through it.

Yeah.

That's not the ensembles in schools, is it?

No.

Yeah.

So the ensembles in schools is a, is a different program that we are able to utilize where our ensembles actually go primarily into title one schools here within the county and are able to bring and perform for those students in those spaces and being able to provide them with experiences that, you know, for one reason or another, they may have not been able to engage with throughout their time here, but we're able to bring our musicians into those spaces, perform for them, and, allow them to see this music and experience it.

Because we never know what doors are going to be unlocked just by having a student be in the room where they, they hear a cellist play, or they hear a violinist or a trumpet, and all of a sudden they think to themselves, that sounds kind of cool.

I think I might want to explore that a little bit more.

And then those schools are able to then turn around and find resources for those students to learn more about.

Okay, what does the trumpe how how would that process work?

And then, you know, a lot of ou musicians call Chattanooga home, and they are instructors, their teachers here in the, in the town.

So they'r pouring back into our students.

And that music in the schools program is one thing that they're able to do to pour back into our young people.

so they go back to their community and they pay it forward like that.

Exactly.

It's a domino effect.

We like to think that our musicians, when they are instructing, are the young, you know, young artists and young performers in our city.

A lot of them.

I can't tell you the number of stories I've heard of young peopl who join our youth Symphony or, or go on to college, and they come back as either as patrons later on in years, and they talk about how they took cello or they took violin from somebody who was in the CSO while they were a young person here in the city.

And that person was a mentor to them and really helped them grow and find themselves and gain confidence and all these amazing qualities that, are just they're hard to measure and they're, they'r they can't put a value on them.

So many of our musician are doing that on a daily basis with, with young people in our community, which is great, actually.

You could say you're doing a generational change.

And we like to think that we are trying.

And it's you're right.

It's it's a constant, effort push for that.

We're trying to do and we're constantly trying to pour into more and more with, with the resources that we hav in order to make those changes.

But you're right.

It is.

We like to think that the young people that we're pouring into early in their school systems, that then go on to, you know, go to college, or maybe they stay here and work, or then turning around and becoming patrons of us later on and, maybe even bringing their colleagues, bringing other peopl in their circle to our concerts.

And so it's a cycle that we keep pouring into year after.

And they grow and they get married, they have children.

And guess what?

Next generation, thir generation, fourth generation.

Exactly.

You know, they're patrons of the arts.

That's right.

That, you've had some really international guest, conductors, performers, opera singers.

You want to share some names with us?

Absolutely.

Yeah.

You know, we've been very fortunate.

Chattanooga.

We like to say, is Chattanooga is a smaller city, in the, you know, in the region, in the state.

But we still we still shoot for the stars and we still go over the top to bring in some amazing musicians.

So some of the ones that we've had in the past from the classical world, we've had Yo-Yo Ma, who has come and performed with us, which was just an amazing experience for him to be able that was sold out.

Yeah.

It was did not get tickets.

It was one that I remember.

And then Renée Fleming, Metropolitan Soprano who, world renowned for her amazing operatic performances and classical voice, came and performed with us again.

Well, very well received.

Our our community loved it.

But then even outside of the classical world, within kind of the pops and more contemporary world, we've had, musicians like, Ricky Skaggs, who is a award winning, world renowned bluegrass mandolin player that has com and performed with our symphony.

And so we are always collaborating with international artists with, with high high, you know, high well known artists here in the States.

In order to bring those talented people here to Chattanooga because, we believe that even though, you know, Nashville's up the road, Atlanta's up the road.

But here in Chattanooga, we have people that want to come and see those artists, and those artists want to come here because they know that we have a an audience group here that in a, in a population that just loves music, loves the arts and wants to support it.

And so we've been very fortunate to have some of those in the past, and we're very excite to continue that moving forward by bringing in, really great guest conductors and great musicians moving forward in the future, because the guest conductors could come in, but they're also working with the local symphony and helping them to to, strengthen their talent, expand it.

Yeah, learn some new techniques and things like that.

You're right.

I mean, I think our musicians gain as much from having guest conductors come into town as some of our community members do, and that just makes them stronger musicians, which then, as we kind of spoke about earlier, allows for them to be stronger teachers to be stronger community members, to pour back into their local community and the people within their circle.

And so, again it's kind of a cyclical cycle, like we were talking about with, with guests our guest conductors coming in, they bring new experiences, new outlooks, new ways of approaching music or approaching different aspects.

And then those qualities ar then imprinted on our musicians that they then take out to their community, which is really powerful.

Okay.

Last 45 seconds are there.

I want to send people to your website because it's a really good website, but are there volunteer opportunities?

Absolutely.

We like to say the CSO, if you care about engaging with people, pouring into people in your community and enriching their lives, there's a place for you.

At the CSO.

We always need people to come to help us on concert nights with different things throughout the year, to help engage with our audience.

We're at a lot of community events throughout the year where we're trying to shar the programing that we're doing.

And just being an advocate for us in their circles and in their communities.

So if you're interested in doing that, you can go to our website and there's information there for you to be able to engage, raise a little bit for everybody.

Live for everybody.

That's cool.

Yeah.

Paul, thank you so much for coming in today and educating me and our viewers more about all the stuff and the programs that CSO has to offer for our wonderful community.

Thank you for having me, I appreciate it.

Yeah.

You're welcome, and thank you for joining us.

We hope you've learned more about the incredible and inspiring work being done by our nonprofits.

So tell us what you think.

Email us at stronger@tv.org or use the hashtag stronger on social media.

I'm Barbara Marder and from all of us here at TCA.

We'll see you next time.

Support for this program is provided by the Weldon F Osborne Foundation.

The Schillhahn-Huskey Foundation.

And viewers like you.

Thank you.