Alaska Legislature Honors Pier One Theatre
We would like to thank Senator Gary Stevens, Representative Sarah Vance, Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, and all the members of the Thirty-Third Alaska State Legislature for honoring 50 yers of Pier One Theatre with the following citation:
“The members of the Thirty-Third Alaska State Legislature are pleased to recognize Pier One Theatre for their fifty years of providing theatre events and programs to the Homer community and across the Kenai Peninsula.
In 1973, Lance and Barbara Petersen and Richard and Donna Dixon chipped in $50 each as seed money for summer theatre in Homer, Alaska, and Pier One Theatre was born. The first theatre space was half of an old city warehouse on the Homer Spit between the Salty Dawg and Land’s End. They opened with a small troupe of players in a melodrama (The Drunkard.) From this small beginning, Pier One Theatre grew under Lance’s direction to produce plays all over the Kenai Peninsula, establish a regular summer season, offer youth theatre instruction, produce big community musicals, nurture the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra, and encourage theatrical arts in all aspects of the community.
Over the years, Pier One has produced more than 350 plays ranging from one person dramas, to hundred person musicals. Nearly all participants are volunteers who dedicate time and money toward all aspects of the theatre, coming together to build community. Pier One is a place for artistic exploration, self discovery, striving for excellence, and for wonderful collaboration.
Now in its 50th year of operation, Pier One Theatre continues in its mission as an inclusive community organization providing quality live theatre performance and instruction on the Kenai Peninsula. Thousands of people participated in last year’s programs as volunteers, donors, or audiences, representing a wealth of community knowledge and experience grown from that early seed in 1973. When pondering the secret to Pier One’s success, long-time participant Peter Norton summed it up nicely. “It’s about the people.”
The members of the Thirty-Third Alaska State Legislature commend Pier One Theatre for providing quality, entertaining programs and shows in Homer and outlying Kenai Peninsula communities and provide their congratulation on its fiftieth anniversary.
