The day’s main program featured Taproot Theatre that is celebrating 50 years of live theatre since its founding in 1976 by six friends. Taproot has since evolved into a robust professional theatre company attracting more than 100,000 people annually to its home theatre in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood, for one of its five mainstage shows and the annual holiday production, plus community outreach and school programs.
Nancy Cahill’s reflection on her early theatre experience provided the day’s inspiration. She explained how performing built her confidence, sharpened her public-speaking skills, and taught her to speak up. At any level, live theatre can help people overcome shyness, find personal fulfillment, and make a lasting difference in young performers’ lives.
The day's song was performed by two talented cast members from Taproot Theatre's new production, Smoke on the Mountain. Rotarians get a 20% discount on all tickets using the code ROTARY26, and a group night is planned later in October.
Rotarians heard from Karen Lund about Taproot’s history, culture, and future. Lund became Producing Artistic Director in 2021 after more than 25 years with the organization. President John praised her strengths in both artistic leadership and operations, as well as Taproot’s commitment to inspiring hope in audiences and performers. He added that the theatre is financially and operationally prepared for the future before inviting Lund to the podium.
“Taproot’s 50th anniversary and award nominations may make headlines, but its real story is the people who inspired a small theatre to dream big,” she began.
Although Taproot’s Mainstage has only 226 seats, its impact reaches far beyond the room. “Our influence has never been defined by the number of chairs, but by pursuing an ambitious vision with passion greater than our resources—and by the conviction that theatre can be rooted in hope.”
Although Taproot’s Mainstage has only 226 seats, its impact reaches far beyond the room. “Our influence has never been defined by the number of chairs, but by pursuing an ambitious vision with passion greater than our resources—and by the conviction that theatre can be rooted in hope.”
The pandemic suspended live performances for two years and sharply reduced theatre attendance. Despite an uncertain future, Taproot persevered through careful decision-making, grant funding, subscriber support, and pricing changes.
Karen oversees both Taproot’s artistic direction and operations, including its budget.
“What is the most truthful, necessary work we can put onstage, and how will we pay for and promote it?” she said. “A budget is not separate from the mission; it is one way we secure its future, from grant applications to strategic planning. Art without operational discipline may not survive.”
“What is the most truthful, necessary work we can put onstage, and how will we pay for and promote it?” she said. “A budget is not separate from the mission; it is one way we secure its future, from grant applications to strategic planning. Art without operational discipline may not survive.”
She surrounds herself with people who care enough to challenge her. “No one is smarter than everyone,” she said. “Leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about bringing together people with different experiences who share a commitment to the mission. Diverse revenue streams sustain excellent theatre, while each decision balances financial discipline, pricing, and access.”
Much of Taproot’s success stems from its mission to “tell stories of hope through live theatre and educational programs,” foster trust, and promote inclusion by ensuring people know they matter.
Her passion for theatre was obvious as she described “seeing the electricity of a live performance for one evening strangers become a community.” Taproot’s productions extend to schools with performances that help students with their own story by telling the truth with passion.
Taproot Theatre Company’s future is evolving as the desire to deliver excellent productions -- that involve paying actors and facility costs – with ways to generate more revenue without excluding the community at large. “At 50 we look back with enormous gratitude producing quality work and how a small theater can wrestle with large ideas,” she concluded. “Our anniversary season brings fantastic new productions, but creates new questions:
With limited seating how do we extend? How to grow revenue while protecting our culture?”
With limited seating how do we extend? How to grow revenue while protecting our culture?”
“Never let the apparent size of the organization define its contribution,” she concluded.”
President John then introduced Helary Rakete-Yakub, Chair of the International Service Committee, who described the committee’s work with Rotary International and locally with the Seattle Rotary Service Foundation. The grant cycle opens October 1 with information available on the website.
President John closed the meeting by highlighting Rotary’s service, including its support for Spokane fire victims. Serving as auctioneer, he helped raise more than $30,000 for the victims’ fund.
-Thank you for this week's report, Pete!
