From Homelessness to History, A Special Fundraiser to Help Open the Main Stage at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts

Many visitors to the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts don’t realize that there is another entire 299 seat theater behind the existing Clark Family Black Box theater. It’s the other half of the original Sutter Theater from when it was a single screen, 900 seat movie theater. Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture has a goal to open the “Main Stage” Sometime in 2025 which will be the 75th anniversary of the opening of the original Sutter Theater in 1950. You can help! On Friday, November 15th you can experience a unique two-part, fun and informative fundraiser featuring the remarkable work of two local and very talented artists. First up is a screening of the original documentary film, The Road to Resilience, by filmmaker Shon Harris who also happens to be the Mayor of Yuba City. It addresses the issues faced by the Yuba-Sutter homeless population as they struggle to survive their journey toward a sustainable life on their own.

“Every statistic has a name, and a face.  By sharing their stories, I hope to inspire action using human compassion as the catalyst, not mere numbers,” said director Harris. Their collective struggle is a cross-section of hope, despair, desperation, success, failure, and even triumph,” he added.   

Following his retirement from the California Highway Patrol, Shon hasn’t let up. His second career as a filmmaker has demonstrated his aptitude for the art form and he has won several film festivals including the Yuba Sutter Flash Film Festival. He is also a selfless volunteer for a variety of youth support programs. 

The second part of the evening asks the question, “What are some of your favorite songs about famous historic events in U.S. History?” Maybe the best known of all is the “Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key. Singer/ songwriter Tom Galvin will perform songs from his new album about local history titled Heroes & Victims. The album is Tom’s remarkable song cycle about the colorful history of Yuba-Sutter. As a transplant from the Midwest, Tom is fascinated about all that has occurred in the area from the early gold rush days to modern day disputes over water rights and the mistreatment of indigenous people and Japanese Americans during WWII. The songs include topics like the Yuba Water Accord, explorer James Beckwourth, the Arboga Assembly Center, the native American Ishi, the Sutter Buttes, the perils the Mormon’s experienced on their journey west, and other relevant themes. In other words, be prepared to get the whole story about the good, the bad and the ugly about our local history.   

Funding for both projects came through a grant from the Upstate California Creative Corps program. Grantees were all part of a statewide campaign designed to increase awareness for issues such as public health, social justice, community engagement, water and energy conservation, and relief and recovery. 

You can make a difference and help open this important performing arts center right in the middle of town by attending this event. Enjoy your favorite drinks including specialty themed cocktails in the full service and snacks will be available at the concession stand. General admission tickets are $15. Doors will open at 6pm and the film will be shown starting at 7pm followed shortly thereafter by Tom’s musical performance. Tickets are available at yubasutterarts.org. 

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