The Workshop Players Theater, a community favorite located at 44820 Middle Ridge Road in Amherst, might have received its next big break thanks to Lorain County filmmaker John Baumgartner.
Baumgartner, who grew up in Amherst and moved to Los Angeles to further his career, has had several past successes in the Lorain area, including his film, “Firesong,” which is about the First Lutheran Church arson in 2014.
Since then, Baumgartner has continued to show his love for the community, including recently joining the board for Workshop Players Theater in early January.
“I saw an article in the paper on how the theater was struggling, and knew that something needed to be done,” he said. “Soon after, I ran into Pat Price, who was also a member of the board, and we were both moved by the plight to keep the theater running.”
Baumgartner quickly set to work relying on his experience in film and marketing and began producing a series of one-minute videos about the theater titled “Workshop Players Is Back!”.
So far, two of the videos have been released on YouTube.
But Baumgartner has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
“I pitched them my ideas on how to reenergize the board and to bounce back from the pandemic, and they were all ears,” he said. “Workshop is such a cultural treasure for the community and so many people have made memories with them, that the responses were overflowing.”
Beginning with a look at the board members and their connections to the theater, Baumgartner’s videos also are on the history of the theater as well as the plans in the works to bring it back to full production status.
“I actually have a personal connection to the theater myself,” he said. “I began working with them at the age of 15 right at the height of founder Valerie Gerstenberger’s career, and it just enveloped me.”
Baumgartner cites his work with the theater as one of the primary reasons why he went into filmmaking and media.
And he knows he is not alone.
“Its just such a unique space that almost reminds me of doing plays in my basement with the hanging lights and audience and actors mixing into one,” Baumgartner said. “They have just helped me with so much in life, and I know that the feeling is shared and that’s why it is crucial that the theater continues.”
Workshop Players is set to celebrate 75 years of service to the community this year with its latest play, “Barefoot In The Park!” running Feb. 23-26 and March 3-5.
Tickets can be bought by calling the box office at 440-634-0472.
For those interested in helping the theater as it continues to get back on its feet, donations can be made by going to WorkshopPlayers.org.