HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/15/2022 Item 6a, Ogren
Delgado, Adriana
From:Joe Ogren <joeogren@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:BUDGET - SLO Rep Grant
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
Honorable City Council,
I reach out today in support of an organization dear to my heart, SLO Repertory Theatre. I have high hopes that you will
approve their challenge grant request so they can continue to offer and elevate the crucial arts programs they have
provided to our community for so many decades.
As a professional actor, I can attest to the power of youth performing arts programs, and SLO Rep’s Academy of
Children’s Theatre (ACT) is as strong as they come. I have trouble picturing how my life would have turned out had I not
been exposed to the exemplary programs at SLO Rep (then the SLO Little Theatre). My time there was instrumental in
finding the passion that has turned into my career, and the seasoned directors and teaching artists instilled a love of
theatre that I’ll never shake.
Since my days as a chubby cheeked fourth grader, talks of SLO Rep moving out of the old library building have been
consistent. A diorama of the hopeful new theatre sat in the lobby for years as we anticipated the move into a larger,
better equipped facility. It’s disheartening to know that these plans have continued to be shelved year after year.
The fine artists of SLO Rep, and the thousands of community members who benefit from their presence, have waited
long enough. The time is now: I urge you to approve their request for the challenge grant.
Sincerely,
Joe Ogren
New York City
www.joeogren.com
1