As many of you may have heard, after thoughtful conversations and an official review process with City Council, Youth Theatre Northwest has been given a “green light” to explore the former Recycling Center property (adjacent to Mercerdale Park) as the site for our future home.
These are changing times for our beloved Youth Theatre Northwest. As you may have heard, we received notice that our landlord, the Mercer Island School District, has announced that it aims to reclaim our building and all buildings on the North Mercer campus for the possible construction of a new middle school. Youth Theatre Northwest may be moving as early as fall 2012.
I am writing to share good news. For 25 years, Youth Theatre Northwest has been Mercer Island’s premiere, nonprofit, performing arts center. YTN has served tens of thousands of children and produced hundreds of theatrical productions. Last winter, the economic recession and a resulting decline in revenues threatened to end our legacy as the theater came very close to the brink of closure. In response, the theater launched a “Save YTN” campaign and the immediate support of many emergency donors kept our theater doors open through spring. After a momentous vote in the chambers of Mercer Island City Hall, our legacy has been secured for the future. On Monday, June 15, the City Council approved a historic allocation of $37,000 to the Theatre’s Emergency Appeal. This is not only a cause for celebration among our young students and their families, but a victory for the entire community.
