Don Steele Resigns from the Depot Theater Company

[Flying Dutchman]

I believe Alan is in a bad spot as far as being able to say anything due to his position in the company. Anything he would say would be construed as conjecture and opinion, which is not good.
I only worked one production with the company, so I have no information and only guesses, but do not have a high stake in the company either.
It is my understanding that the company had the money and budget for the rest of the year. Boothill controls that, I believe, so if there is a financial situation that woulod be the first place to look (like maybe re-distributing funds to other areas). The company is also loosing two very important people, Mark and his wife, that might be a point of contention. Lack of good plays........no directors.........who knows, but if Don is leaving for good it must be something that cannot be fixed while he is there.

[Alan Stukenholtz]

Thanks for the post. Exactly. Please don't expect me to give my opinion on the subject in a public forum. I will give you any facts that I have. I think the fact that I put my actual name on the boards gives you a hint that I have no intent on posting a lot of fictional content. I really want people to talk to the public, and people that are involved in the Depot Theater Company and try to get the facts.

Many people have been fed false information.

Ask me a question I can answer and I will.

[gunnar1073]

For the person that asked if Don Steele was in fact "The Theater Company", a short answer would be yes!

In the 25 years the company has been in existence he has worn every hat imaginable. From set construction to director and custodian to fund raising, Don has done it all. It would be a major loss to the community if we allow him to walk away from the Theater Company. He is a leader to the many members of the company and I feel fairly confident that his departure would cause quite a stir and would result in a major convoy of defections as well.

The sad part of all of this is that if it was just a case of personality conflicts between members of the board and Don, I would say that it could be ironed out in an orderly fashion. But the fact of the matter is the place almost closed their doors a few months ago because of lack of funds and really there hasn't been much done to keep that problem from coming back.

I mean, how many of you knew about that? Or have you even heard of any fundraising activities planned for the Depot Theater Company? Anything?

..... Exactly

My own personal opinion on the matter is that something is afoot. The board has done absolutely nothing to protect the company and the depot from going under. Either they don't care or they lack the tools to accomplish what they were put in place to do to begin with. Their needs to be a change and it needs to start at the top.

[Tee]

Originally Posted by Alan Stukenholtz

Thanks for the post. Exactly. Please don't expect me to give my opinion on the subject in a public forum. I will give you any facts that I have. I think the fact that I put my actual name on the boards gives you a hint that I have no intent on posting a lot of fictional content. I really want people to talk to the public, and people that are involved in the Depot Theater Company and try to get the facts.

Many people have been fed false information.

Ask me a question I can answer and I will.

Well, I for one thank you for letting us know what had transpired. This was the first I heard about it. At least now, we can "ask questions" and find out what's going on. Maybe someone that is "in the know" and has an anonomous moniker can bring us up to speed.

[jackknife]

I hate this. Don is incredibly talented and a very huge asset to the Dodge City community. Don has the talent and the credentials to do what he does in a much bigger city. He has a love for Dodge City and the people that inspired him to come back to the area and get the Repertory Company off the ground. His talents are large and his loyalty is even bigger. He loves the company and has given a lot of his own self to every production.

This makes me sad and I can assure you that I will be asking questions.

If the Depot, which by the way was restored thanks to YEARS of effort on Don's part, goes to the city, then what will they be doing with it? Makes me wonder if the board are hoping that it folds so they can do something else with the building. I'm feeling pretty upset thinking about someone taking away what Don and the entire company spent years putting together.

[Tee]

Originally Posted by jackknife

I hate this. Don is incredibly talented and a very huge asset to the Dodge City community. Don has the talent and the credentials to do what he does in a much bigger city. He has a love for Dodge City and the people that inspired him to come back to the area and get the Repertory Company off the ground. His talents are large and his loyalty is even bigger. He loves the company and has given a lot of his own self to every production.

This makes me sad and I can assure you that I will be asking questions.

If the Depot, which by the way was restored thanks to YEARS of effort on Don's part, goes to the city, then what will they be doing with it? Makes me wonder if the board are hoping that it folds so they can do something else with the building. I'm feeling pretty upset thinking about someone taking away what Don and the entire company spent years putting together.

I agree Jacknife. I helped out on the dinner-theaters way back when Don still did them at Boothill and he was the heart of the theater.

To answer an earlier question about whether someone else could do it.... Sure- but most likely not as good as Don does it. Don's had at least 20 years of experience doing this. He does it well, the actors and staff respect him, and the place always sells out.

It will be a great loss- if there is anything that could be done to change Don's mind, it would wise to explore, for the Depot Theater and for the Dodge City entertainment and tourism industry. People drive in from all over to see these.

[Made in the USA]

I don't know him personally, but "RUMOR" has it that he is the reason that they are having financial problems. Let me state again, this is RUMOR that I have been hearing, and I in no way know anything about any of it!

[jackknife]

MITUSA, that sounds like a rumor put out by someone that is really to blame. Don ran the Theatre for 25 years without it going under. It seems that the new factor in all of this is the board. That is my take on it anyway.

[old timer]

the new factor in all of this is the board

but then I was told by Clueless that couldn't be

is everything in your view a conspiracy

-- No, but sometimes it actually is....

[jackknife]

I didn't see where you even mentioned the casion in your thread old timer.

The whole thing just isn't making sense to me. I've been gone a while but when I look at the names on the board I don't see a lot of names I recognize as having been supporters of the company when I was there. I know a lot can happen in the years I was gone but I just kinda thought I would at least recognize names from the guest lists of every show.