Welcome to the Gold Camp Players ... are you in?

Greetings everyone,

On Tuesday June 30 a small group got together and began discussing the potential for a performing arts group in the Lead/Deadwood/Northern Hills area. By group consensus it was decided we should use the name "Gold Camp Players" and have meetings at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month. The following topics were discussed:

1. The name "Gold Camp Players" easily includes any community in the general Black Hills since mining and mining camps are a collective part of our history.
2. The Gold Camp Players should be the foundation for the production of community theater on the stage of the Historic Homestake Opera House.
3. The group should include, support and promote anything that would be considered performing arts.
4. There should be learning opportunities for members of the group to increase their knowledge and understanding of the many aspects of the performing arts including but not limited to lighting, sound, make-up, directing, choreography, stage movement, set design and costuming.
5. The group should promote interest and participation in the performing arts to all members of the community especially children and seek ways to provide opportunities.
6. Volunteer efforts/activities at the Historic Homestake Opera House could create attendance opportunities at various performance at reduced or no cost for members.
7. The possibility of memberships with levels that grant members different opportunities/admissions depending on the financial support required for each level.
8. Operating as a complimentary group by agreement with the Historic Homestake Opera House Society or taking formal steps to become a non-profit group with it's own by laws and organizational structure.
9. The need to promote the performing arts in a way that no one is excluded, everyone involved finds the experience enjoyable, and the community is entertained.
10. Using the Blog format that was introduced by Sarah Carlson during the Music Man, along with email, as an ongoing means of communication for the group.

There were many ideas within our discussion and a lot of potential to provide opportunities for the many talented individuals in our area, the ongoing mission of the Historic Homestake Opera House, the Deadwood/Lead Arts Council and support the performing arts. The next meeting in this process will be July 28th at 7 p.m. somewhere within the Historic Homestake Opera House. Those of us who met in June would invite any of you who are interested and can attend to join us.

I hope to see you there.

Respectfully submitted for the group,
David Scherer