"We are committed to bringing theatrical works that entertain, enlighten, provoke and inspire -- works that not only reflect our common humanity, but celebrate and embrace our differences," Interim Managing Director for Salem Repertory Theatre, Ben Crop, said.

Five years after its founding, SRT strives to live up to this theatrical ideal. Artistic Director David Janoviak said his theater company has met many of its original goals by finding a long-term home in the Reed Opera House, and now looks to its next steps into the future.

"I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished," Janoviak said.

"We have, in large part, fulfilled our mission. We have brought high-quality professional theater to Salem. We have formed an amazingly talented resident company of actors, designers, and technicians ... and we have created several successful educational programs," Janoviak said.
In 2003 a group of professional actors and directors from the greater Willamette Valley and Portland decided it was time for Oregon's capital city to contribute its voice to the professional theater community.

"Many of us were simply tired of having to go out of town to find work," Susan Coromel, founding member, actor and associate artistic director for Salem Repertory Theatre, said.

"We thought we could fill a need that hadn't been met yet. Not to detract from the theater that was already here; there is a lot of high quality theater in this town -- at Willamette University, Western Oregon, Pentacle, Corban College, Chemeketa, the various high schools -- we feel that all this theater only makes us all stronger, because theater promotes theater. It creates an environment that pushes us all to innovate and helps us all grow," Coromel said.

Founding Salem Repertory Theatre required dozens of volunteers. The acting company, directors and designers are paid modestly for their work, but that only scratches the surface of talent required to put together a theatrical production.

From set building and ushering, to board members and marketing plans, volunteers are a theater company's life- blood.

"Even large, long-established companies like [those in] Ashland rely on volunteers. Founding SRT has required a monumental amount of commitment, passion and hard work from many people passionate about the power of performing arts [and] committed to bettering their community. Working with these amazing folk on the shared vision of SRT is an inspiration. It's what drives the company. It's what theater is all about," Janoviak said.

Janoviak and Coromel said that the company's next step is to reach out to other area art and nonprofit organizations to bring joint projects to the community.

"The most dynamic cities in the country have the strongest theater communities and are recognized as artistic centers. As of the last census report, Salem surpassed Eugene as the second largest city in the state, and it's the capital.
There is no reason why Salem shouldn't be known for theater and culture," Janoviak said.

Salem Repertory's literary manager Michael Phillips and Janoviak recently met with Olga Sanchez of Portland's Milagro Theatre Project.

The three of them hatched a three-year plan to integrate Latino plays into SRT's seasons. This will start with a staged reading of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings" in April of 2009 and will continue with stagings of Milagro's annual touring shows.

"We are working to reflect our common humanity and celebrate and embrace our differences," Ben Crop said. "We decided to partner with Milagro Theatre to bring Latin-American programming to Salem for that very reason. Over one quarter of Salem's population is Hispanic. As a cultural organization, it is our responsibility to accurately reflect the culture that we serve."

The next five years will be a time of building on the foundation already established. Their space in the Reed Opera House is undergoing minor renovations at the end of August. Gone will be the grass-green carpet; in will come wood floors and stadium seats. The company is also pursuing grants to buy lighting and sound equipment of its own -- until now they have had to beg and borrow equipment from other theaters in the area.

The Reed is SRT's permanent home, Janoviak said, because it fits their needs perfectly and patrons say they love the atmosphere. As their audience grows, Janoviak said they will simply add more performances to each run.

"Within a few years it is likely we will increase the number of weekends we run each show from three to six. I am really excited to watch this company and city blossom together into something really dynamic," Janoviak said.