What a Smashing, Positively Dashing Spectacle:
A Look Back and Forward as Jervey Theatre is Set to Rise
By Laura B. Kopple, Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady Sponsor and Board Vice-President, in honor of the late Lynn Crandall, Board Treasurer
“Ladies and Gentlemen/Ev’ry duke and earl and peer is here/Ev’ryone who should be here is here/What a smashing, positively dashing
Spectacle” ~ Ascot Gavotte in Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady
When it comes to Venice Theatre, my enthusiasm is impossible to hide. I light up when talking about it—especially one-on-one—because I genuinely love sharing our story. From the transformative work we do in the community to our captivating performances, stunning sets, and intricate costumes, everything about Venice Theatre radiates passion. The dedication of our staff and the unwavering support of our patrons, who lovingly refer to it as “their” Theatre, never ceases to amaze me. I’ve never encountered a more committed team of employees.
Lynn Crandall was our Board Treasurer when she passed away last summer. Her birthday was in early January, and it feels fitting to celebrate her here. We first met at a Presidents Club dinner and instantly connected. Over time, she and her husband, Jim, became not just friends but also clients and confidants. Eventually, Lynn joined me as a fellow board member of the Theatre, deepening her connection to this vibrant community we both cherish.
“Lynn’s fire and passion for this organization was contagious. As treasurer she helped our bookkeeper streamline our financials and initiate procedures which have helped immensely. Her candor, thoughtfulness, and that twinkling smile have been missed,” Kristofer Geddie, the theatre’s Executive Director, shared with me.
Lynn’s legacy, and the legacies of so many on whose shoulders we stand in this 75th Diamond Anniversary Season, remind us of how far we’ve come—“[the] smiles, [the] frowns/[the] ups, [the] downs”—which truly are second nature to us all now. As we launch into the second half of our Diamond Season, we anticipate ups and downs, but people like Lynn, our own fair lady, have made us more resilient, able to weather storms big and small. Now we look forward to seeing the Jervey Theatre rise high into the sky, announcing to all that Venice is an arts community and we need to support this community—and its community theatre—any way we can.
I’m thrilled we are “going vertical,” Phase II of our construction project, and eagerly anticipate Phase III, when we may fill the Jervey Theatre with all the lights, seats, and everything else needed to re-open. In the days before Hurricane Ian, I gifted The Honor Wall to Venice Theatre, which will list all Next Act Donors who’ve helped us renovate and re-build. I look forward to its completion in Phase III and seeing so many names of those who will have supported our beloved theatre. Will your name be on The Honor Wall?
When the fly loft tower and The Honor Wall go up, what a smashing, absolutely dashing spectacle that sight will be!
For more information about Venice Theatre’s Have A Seat Campaign to raise the bulk of the $5,000,000 needed to complete Phase III (432 seats at $7,500 per seat), becoming a Sponsor and joining the Presidents Club, and to stay updated on programs and construction at Venice Theatre, please visit https://venicetheatre.org or contact Camille Cline at camille@venicetheatre.net.