For Tracey Marceron, it’s not about the money. If it was, she wouldn’t be in the business of running a small theater and art school for area youth.
“To me, all of it is worth it when a parent comes to me and says ‘My child has blossomed in every positive way I can think of after being in one of your shows. She’s like a different person,” said Marceron, who since 2007 has run the Between Friends Arts Center at the Next Generation Theatre on Center Street in Brewer. “All that hard work and struggle is worth it when we see the positive impact the arts have on kids.”
Marceron, who started the Next Generation Theatre with her then-teenage daughter, Lexi, and Lexi’s friend and classmate, Jamie Bartol, at that time had only hoped to make an investment in some real estate in Brewer by buying 39 Center St., and to operate a theater arts camp for local kids for a few years with Lexi and Bartol, both of whom are theater artists.
“I thought we’d do it for a few years, and I thought maybe Lexi and Jamie would come back from college in New York [City] to help,” she said. “But of course, they are thriving in New York and are working in theater… and we’ve managed to keep going and even grow.”
She still remains a little stunned that nine years later they have more than 450 students throughout the year, they have expanded the facilities to include a brand-new, fully renovated rehearsal space across the street at 72 Center St., and they purchased the dilapidated building next door to the theater, which was torn down over the spring to create on-site parking for students and patrons. And that’s not to mention the vintage and antique shop, the Between Friends Gift Shop, that runs year-round in the front half of the theater building.
This summer, programming at Between Friends includes the five-week theater camp, which starts next week and will culminate in a performance of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” for two weekends, July 8-10 and 15-17. There’s also two week-long dance camps — one from June 27 through July 1 that will culminate in a dance performance at the Bangor-Brewer Fourth of July parade, and one from Aug. 8 through 12 that will feature two different dance styles each day. And for visual arts, Between Friends offers an “art of the self-portrait” camp from July 25-29, and a digital photography camp from Aug. 15-19. All camps cost $100, except for the theater camp, which costs $225.
Marceron, who estimates she works anywhere from 60 to 80 hours per week running the center, admits that it is a constant struggle to keep it going — they aren’t raking in money doing what they do, but they have managed to build a sustainable business model over the years, while keeping tuition affordable for families of all income levels.
“All the pieces work together — the camps, the classes, the gift shop, theater rentals — so we can keep going,” she said. “We also have so many talented folks that come in and teach classes… we have former students direct shows. It’s been so great to watch our students grow and evolve and turn into talented young adults.”
The theater itself — with a capacity of 125, a large stage and dance floor, a full backstage area and a small bar serving snacks, beer, wine and soda — has been rented regularly over the years by bands and performers from all over the area. They include The Focus Group improv troupe, Winterport bluegrass band Nevah, the 13-piece Skyliners Big Band, sketch comedy group Her Majesty’s Cabaret, and the Foxcroft Academy Alumni Jazz Band. The new rehearsal space at 72 Center St. is also now available to rent, offering a large, open space with lots of sunshine and room to move.
For more information on the Next Generation Theatre at the Between Friends Arts Center, visit the website at nextgenerationtheatre.com, or like them on Facebook.
