Minding Your Business- Eventide Theater Company

The iconic Eventide Theater Company has been around for decades and is located in Dennis Village within the Dennis Union Church. Eventide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit independent theater whose mission is to inspire, engage and enrich the local community through the transformative power of live theater. The staff and board of directors of the theater are dedicated to providing a welcoming and inclusive space where diverse voices and stories can be shared and celebrated. Eventide believes in the power of the arts to connect people, ignite conversations, and build a vibrant, culturally rich community for all.

Eventide’s business manager, Jen Sartanowicz, along with the board of directors that includes Susan Martin, Keith Chamberlin, Connie Champlin, Marilyn Archibald, Mark Bishop, Chuck Gifford, Liz Argo, Jon Sloane and Harold Fischer, are responsible for carrying out the theater’s mission of supporting local artists. 

“There are three ways to support the theater: time, treasure or talent,” Sartanowicz said. “We are always looking for volunteers, whether that’s coming to be an usher, paint a set or even act. We are looking for people who want to be on stage or backstage. It’s a great way to support the theater. We are really trying to be a space where folks can learn. We are a community theater, so if you have not acted before or hung a light, that’s OK. That’s what our space is for.”

And of course Sartanowicz says that donations are key to keeping Eventide alive and thriving. Eventide is always looking for local community businesses to partner with to support the theater with sponsorships. There are also membership opportunities available that help fuel every season. Memberships individuals are $60 per year and $100 for a couple and include perks like discounts on tickets to Main Stage productions, free water/snack at concession stand, early ticket purchase for shows, the ability to exchange tickets with no additional cost, invitations to “Members’ Mixers,” and many other special events throughout the year. 

“We also have our Angel Fund which was a huge success over the holiday season,” Sartanowicz said. “We were able to raise enough money, along with a generous matching grant, to buy all new lighting equipment for the theater, which will be great.”

The Voices of Cape Cod series highlights local artists and performers in a pop-up style format. Also recently featured were local fiddler Rose Clancy and guitarist Max Cohen performing a blend of contemporary and traditional tunes and songs, infused with influences from Ireland, Scotland and New England. Be sure to check out the Eventide website, eventidearts.org, for future dates in this series as they become available.

“Recently we had our first ‘Voices of Cape Cod Series’ that we are bringing back,” Sartanowicz  said. “This first show was about shipwrecks and stories about sea shanties with a group from Nantucket. It was a lot of fun. This series is a great way to diversify what we’re offering while providing performance opportunities for local artists.”

Now in its 19th year, Eventide will soon open up its submission timeframe for the annual Kaplan Playwriting competition. Qualified submissions must have a direct connection to Cape Cod and the Islands. The winner is announced in the fall, receives a cash prize and the offer to do a staged reading of their play.

Up next is “Almost Maine,” the season’s first mainstage production at Eventide, which debuts Feb. 20. The play is a romantic comedy with several different scenes all taking place at the same time in the same town, culminating around the Northern Lights. “Almost Maine” was developed on the Cape with the Cape Cod Theater Project and is directed by Mark Bishop. The show runs through March 1, so be sure to buy tickets soon!

Eventide Theater Company

713 Main St, Route 6A, Dennis

eventidearts.org

508-233-2148