8 Incite / Insight Network Spotlight Summer / Early Fall 2018
On The Road
Again by Pat Haines-Ainsworth
In 1999 , the school districts in our area experienced a kind of financial “ perfect storm .” The tax base had dipped , federal funding was cut , insurance rates went up , and there was a shortage of school bus drivers . These factors meant students were no longer able to go on the kind of field trips as they had done in previous years . Some of those lost trips included bussing them to see the wonderful professional theater companies nearby in Seattle , Kirkland , and Everett . It was sad . Even though those cities were only thirty to fortyfive minutes away , they ( and the great programs they presented ) were out of reach for the children in our area .
During the three previous years , I worked as an art docent in the district and had gotten to know the students well . I hated the idea that , because of the distance and the lack of funding , these students couldn ’ t have the same access to the educational advantages live theater and the arts provide . Washington State is like many states in the west and Midwest . We have several large cities along the Interstate 5 corridor , plus Spokane on the eastern side of the state where there is amazing theater available for young audiences . But in between , we have mountains , farming and ranching communities , and lots of small rural towns that can ’ t support a resident theater for young audiences .
My friend and fellow teaching artist and actor , Alexandra Clark , and I decided to create a touring company called Last Leaf Productions . I had experience as a writer , producer , and visual artist . Alex had costuming experience and worked with a touring company in Los Angeles before she moved to Washington State . Both of us worked professionally for a number of years as stage managers so we knew the ins and outs of putting on a show . Our goal was to create a touring company , Last Leaf , that was able to perform anywhere on a very tight budget ,