The Friends of the Concord City Auditorium gave out two awards at its recent annual meeting.
Carol Kyne and Nina Piroso were recognized for going above and beyond, and we wanted to tell you about it.
Carol Bagan was nice enough to send us the transcript from the award ceremony, which we've pulled some excerpts from, and some photos. Please hold your applause until the end, readers.
First, the Friend of the Year award:
It's hard to imagine a time when the Friends of the Audi could have met in the box office – all five of them. But what they lacked in numbers they made up in determination that this theater was going to be preserved and maintained.
Then they called a meeting of every group that had rented the stage in recent years and enlisted them all in the cause, placing the concept of consensus on the bottom line. The first consensus: The place looked awful, with peeling paint – blue, peach, brown – dull and dingy. The first priority: make it bright and beautiful, warm and welcoming. With no money. In six weeks.
“I can do that,” she said. “We'll get the money, but we need Friends – hundreds of Friends – who will give up summer nights and weekends to scrub, to clean, to paint. You get the people to pitch in,” she said, “and I'll get the job done.” And she did.
In the next six weeks, over 700 people showed up to Pitch In, and she organized them into crews of 20. Leaving her day job at 5, she went directly to the Audi to line up the work for the evening shift, and stayed until every paintbrush was washed out.
Since then – over 19 years – she has been the Audi's dear friend. The ideal stage manager, she ran the “Rhythm of the Night” for years and kept a keen eye on the house with her work for the Community Players. The ideal hostess, she welcomed the guests to the theater's 100th birthday party with charm and grace.
It is with great pleasure and gratitude that we recognize the years of extraordinary service by Carol M. Kyne.
And now, the Golden Pineapple award! Did you get an actual pineapple, Nina? Because that would be cool.
When early New England sea captains returned home from exotic ports bringing a coveted souvenir – a pineapple – their families stuck it on the gatepost as a symbol of welcome. It meant the house was open, and everyone was welcome to join in the festivities.
In 1991, when the Friends of the Audi held the first Pitch In and dug through the back corners of storerooms and closets, a public properties member discovered a treasure – a small plaster pineapple – the last surviving piece of the gilt work that had decorated the theater in 1904.
It was gilded again and placed on a platform above the inside front door as our symbol of welcome.
But just saying “welcome” isn't enough. The house has to be open to everyone, it has to be affordable and accessible. That takes quiet, behind the scenes work every day to accommodate all kinds of requests. To change the schedule, get a key, find a technician, book a date, fix the curtains, clean the stage, lock the door, unlock the door, get information and even pleas for special dispensation.
Staying affordable requires skilled financial management and the ability to balance needs and requests in addition to the books.
And even more than the work, it takes a very special person to deal with over 100 artistic bookings every year in a cheerful and fair-handed way. Since 2003, the auditorium has been fortunate to have its management in the hands of a smart, accommodating, fair, and pleasant lady, Nina Piroso.
Awesome behind-the-scenes work, Carol and Nina! You're an inspiration to us all. And thanks, Carol, for sharing the good news with us.
