Empty Space memories

I worked as Master Carpenter building scenery at the Space in the early 80's. We built some amazing sets for an impossible space. The Empty Space provided an opportunity for some great and inventive shows. I think it was then Technical Director Greg Strain, that said, "Yeah, we can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Sometimes we have to make the sow's ear first."

From my first trip to Capital Hill to see ES when I felt such a part of the play experience and that my ticket money was going straight into the actors pockets, I felt that every move they made was more about money and stature and less about actors and my needed support. I still believe the actors and plays were important to Seattle. But the business leaders thought that the entire thing was success measured by money and not by the continued satisfaction of the grass roots viewers that believed in the play experience for ordinary folks. Some of the first ticket payers grew up affluent, most were left behind. Shame on you ES for forgetting your roots and mission statement.

My favorite era was way back during Ronny B'Wana, Jungle Guide days. The sense of fresh theater, community, entertainment and ensemble performance could not have been better. Because they "updated" the piece periodically, I think I saw it perhaps 10 times. I always smile when I think of it. I've seen some great performances since, but those I remember? Definitely Ronny B'Wana and the troupe.

My comments are more of a historical note - In the late 1960s it was members of the Empty Space theater who generously helped two young adults from out of state. The young man (my boyfriend) had shown up at the Blue Moon looking for help in Seattle. It was the Vietnam era and a Seattle address meant a Seattle draft board - believed to be one of the most liberal at that time. We stayed, no questions asked, in a large Capital Hill house occupied by many members of the company. Although the names have been forgotten, the gesture has not.

During a performance of Twelfth Night at the Capitol Hill walk-up venue, an earthquake struck. It was nothing big, but since the building was old and the seats were set on a kind of scaffolding which amplified the shake, we in the audience were quite startled and not sure what to do. At that moment, R. Hamilton Wright's character came on stage and he ad-libbed, "Yes, that was a small earthquake", before carrying on his lines without missing a beat. Where else could that have happened but at the Empty Space?

as a former seattle actor who worked at the empty space on capital hill, both pioneer square locations and fremont, i was shocked and saddened to learn of the EST demise. it should be a growing concern for the seattle theatrical community to lose yet another mid size theatre, which in turn sends even more of us seattle actors to far environs to seek employment. i have such fond memories of the shows i did for the Space, such as "Broadway", "The Rocky Horror Show", "Virtus", and "Ming the Rude". The magic and heart of this wonderful theatre is a great, great loss. R.I.P.

I came to Seattle from New York in 1974 and was horrified by the terrible theater events I attended. Then I found the Empty Space. It was intense, relevant ... I was transported by the acting, not the sets and costumes (as there were hardly and sets and costumes!) Theater is about acting and the script. Burke Walker & Co. brought theater to life in Seattle like no others ... Later, working at Cornish, we invited ES to help rebuild its theater department. Julien Shembri from the original ES team got things going. Hopefully at Cornish the original spark is still alive !!