|
|
|
Independence, MO —
On Thursday evening, the opening night of City Theatre of Independence’s production “The Nerd,” Dave and Connie Mayta held their 17th producer’s night as a fundraiser for Powerhouse Theatre Foundation (which includes City Theatre) and PAWS Inc.
Now celebrating 25 years of marriage, the Independence couple met while volunteering for PAWS, a local organization founded in 1973 to help people solve animal-related problems.
1. How did you become interested in producing shows?
Dave: This goes back way before we were married. We enjoyed going to live plays in Kansas City.
Connie: Somebody I knew, his wife was in a play at the Sermon Center. I thought, “Well, it sounds interesting.” So, we went to that play, and it was really good. It was close, and we just really enjoyed it. We just kept going back.
Dave: It didn’t cost that much to go, and the plays were every bit as good as the professional ones.
Connie: We became members, and I think we’d been going a couple of years when we asked about the producer night. Basically, we give them some money, and then they give you the first night to do whatever you want to – they told us we could invite 200 of our closest friends.
2. Why do you think it is important to support the local arts?
Dave: I think the community needs all kinds of arts, not just theater. We’re involved in several things like that.
Connie: I think it rounds out a society. Everything can’t just be all cerebral – you need some fun and talent. There are so many talented people in and around Independence. City Theatre gets actors and directors from all over the metro area.
3. What do you each gain personally from giving back to the community?
Dave: It is quite rewarding, and we work together, most of the time, on the things that we do.
Connie: We’ve met a lot of really nice people volunteering.
Dave: I said that although Independence is a medium-sized city, to us, it feels more like a smaller hometown.
On Thursday evening, the opening night of City Theatre of Independence’s production “The Nerd,” Dave and Connie Mayta held their 17th producer’s night as a fundraiser for Powerhouse Theatre Foundation (which includes City Theatre) and PAWS Inc.
Now celebrating 25 years of marriage, the Independence couple met while volunteering for PAWS, a local organization founded in 1973 to help people solve animal-related problems.
1. How did you become interested in producing shows?
Dave: This goes back way before we were married. We enjoyed going to live plays in Kansas City.
Connie: Somebody I knew, his wife was in a play at the Sermon Center. I thought, “Well, it sounds interesting.” So, we went to that play, and it was really good. It was close, and we just really enjoyed it. We just kept going back.
Dave: It didn’t cost that much to go, and the plays were every bit as good as the professional ones.
Connie: We became members, and I think we’d been going a couple of years when we asked about the producer night. Basically, we give them some money, and then they give you the first night to do whatever you want to – they told us we could invite 200 of our closest friends.
2. Why do you think it is important to support the local arts?
Dave: I think the community needs all kinds of arts, not just theater. We’re involved in several things like that.
Connie: I think it rounds out a society. Everything can’t just be all cerebral – you need some fun and talent. There are so many talented people in and around Independence. City Theatre gets actors and directors from all over the metro area.
3. What do you each gain personally from giving back to the community?
Dave: It is quite rewarding, and we work together, most of the time, on the things that we do.
Connie: We’ve met a lot of really nice people volunteering.
Dave: I said that although Independence is a medium-sized city, to us, it feels more like a smaller hometown.
