Today we’d like to introduce you to Noel Miner.
Hi Noel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Bitten by the bug, a late bloomer I shared my desire to create a “gentle” theater for newbie actors to mix with seasoned actors. With the monetary encouragement of a sweet senior citizen ($1000) and the dedication of a loving husband we were off on our adventure. We applied for our 501(c)(3) and it went straight through. Tavares Theater became real January 1, 2014. We found a home in the back portion of a church and by St. Paddies Day 2017 we purchased our own building. (I call it my dream and my husband’s nightmare.)
So we will be a live theater venue; a place to rent for other groups; a home for the community.
Is is worth it? Yes! We have rescued so many people either on the stage or in the audiences. How do I know. They tell me. They have shown me. We have brought young and old together…communicating. We have had people thank us for helping them take courageous steps forward in personal relationships with terminally ill relatives. We have given people a place to BE.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was supposed to be an easy transition. Do our shows there and gut and transform the old Water Authority building. After the church lost their building, and then the pandemic, it became clear that running around doing shows while setting up and building and packing them up and tearing them down while trying to renovate our future home was not the best plan. December 2023 we ended our Eighth season.We would take one year off to totally work on the building. However, costs had tripled, a contractor walked off the job another faked knowing what he was doing. We have learned a lot. It is now one and a half years closed. We are just about ready to open thanks to a couple good volunteers and great contractors. Much of the interior work has been done by Harold and I under the direction of our main contractor. (We both have backgrounds in technology.) As we settle into our mid 70s, 4×7 sheets of 3/4 plywood and 2″x12″x16′ lumber is getting heavy. But, the stage just needs a couple coats of paint, the carpet needs laid, and the seats are waiting to be installed. What else besides losing our first home, Covid, and costs going up while no shows are happening to bring in money could slow us down? We will be getting a new roof in a couple weeks. Really need some angel donors.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have always been exceptional about promoting other people and I have always counted on others to promote our works. So when Darelle Pallans passed away in 2023 I just kept working on this theater, mourning our loss while relieved that her pain and suffering was over. Between rescuing students from uncaring parents, propelling students to Air Force One and another as CEO of a children’s group in New Your City, listening while people I just met through the theater poured out their hearts after one of our shows touched a nerve, moved them to action, relieved a pain, and taking over some of pastor’s duties at church to lessen his burden as he cares for his wife I find that those are the things people “get” about me.
I do not think that sets me apart from others. I just think that people are overwhelmed with negative news.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
No one memory jumps out at me. I was a busy child.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tavarestheater.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1474402406163824
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/tavarestheater.org
Image Credits
1: Cynthia Hunnefeld & Troy Trainer; 2: John Kreutzer, Orlando Kruetzer, & Harold Miner; 3: None; 4: Brendon Rogers Jennifer Fink; 5: None; 6: None; 7: Michelle Buehler, Roy Ster Seven, and Eddie Lucas; 8: Jessa Halteman, & Joshua Hernandez
