Actors generally like it when the quality and acclaim of their performance go "through the roof." For the Broadway Theater in Rock Springs, Tuesday's windstorm decided to make that idiom literal.
A massive tree standing near the downtown theater was blown over by hurricane-force winds raging across Wyoming on Tuesday. The tree didn't bring down the house but caused some damage to the historic structure.
"The theater has a flat membrane roof which was punctured," said Chad Banks, manager of the Rock Springs Urban Renewal Agency. "We were pretty fortunate, and it was definitely a dramatic afternoon."
The Dramatic Afternoon
The tree that collapsed on Tuesday was standing behind the Broadway Theater. According to Banks, it was already putting on a show when it finally bowed out.
"It started with a few limbs falling off," he said. "Pretty soon, the whole thing toppled over."
The tree made a dramatic exit, but it couldn't have fallen in a better spot. Fortunately, that was on the sidewalk and alley adjacent to the Broadway Theater, missing most of the building.
Banks said an initial visual assessment of the roof showed that the tree had punctured it in several places. Beyond that, the damage was "mostly cosmetic."
"One of the front banners was completely torn off, and the stage screen inside the theater partially came down, but that's mostly cosmetic," he said. "Other than the roof, there was no physical damage to the building other than the roof."
A small utility shed behind the theater got more of the brunt of the tree's fall, denting and twisting its metal roof. That was the extent of the damage, much to Banks's relief.
"No one was injured, and there were no vehicles nearby," he said. "We're really fortunate in that regard, because it could have certainly been much worse."
Theatre critics would say that was an ambitious effort but ultimately resulted in a mostly wooden and overblown performance.
The Show Must Go On
One of the oft-stated mantras of the thespian world is "the show must go on."
That's a crucial necessity for the 370-seat Broadway Theater, which has two Christmas productions running through the end of December: a musical version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" staged by the Horizon Theater Company, and "A Sherlock Carol" staged by Actor's Mission, Rock Springs' community theatre group.
Banks said the damage caused by Tuesday's tree fall won't be addressed until Dec. 22, but the damage wasn't significant enough to cancel or inhibit any productions.
"All the electrical (equipment) is still working, so it shouldn't impact the Dec. 11 performance of 'A Christmas Carol' at all," he said. "That's also really fortunate."
The only thing that might have frightened theatergoers away from the Broadway was the inability to use their phones. The tree knocked out the Internet during its curtain call, but Banks assured everyone that it had been restored.
In the long run, the Broadway Theater has been through a lot worse. It was the only movie theater in Rock Springs for 30 years after it opened in 1948, but it was left empty of applause and audiences after the White Mountain Mall and its modern movie theater opened.
The City of Rock Springs and the Urban Renewal Agency purchased the theater in 2008 for $90,000 and raised over $2 million to restore and modernize the theater into a live performance venue.
Since its reopening in 2011, the Broadway Theater has been home to four local theatre companies and hosts dozens of events each year. It's been called "the gem" and "the heartbeat" of downtown Rock Springs.
Wyoming's wind might have tried to bring down the house with a massive showstopper, but the tree couldn't make it under the limelight. The shows will go on.
"In the whole scheme of things, there's only minor damage," Banks said.
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
