Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Dundore-Gulotta.
Hi Karen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The idea of me opening my own theater, began on the island of Ocracoke where I was taking a sabbatical from my job. I was living on the island teaching performing arts and puppetry to school children. I was also directing a tale of Blackbeard in the evenings. I would often sit on the beach, notebook and pencil in hand and plotted out how to open my own theater when I return to Pennsylvania when I returned in the fall. I found a space at 53 Chestnut St. in a Lutheran Church called St. James Lutheran Church our very show was a true story of children in the terrorist and ghetto during World War II. We all love this little space, but unfortunately we had to leave when the building was sold. We not only love the space we loved the members of Saint James Lutheran Church, who always made us feel special from the little beginnings in a small rented space in the Lutheran Church. We found a new space at the Lebanon Valley mall there was much work to be done and my partner Steve Smith and I spent eight months building a new theater. We also had many volunteers who helped as they had time. The process began with us, pulling nails and screws from used lumber as there was only $5000 in the bank when we started the large remodel. Keep in mind everyone who works at The St. James Players works for free to include me and my partner Steve Smith.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think anytime that you do something you’ve never done before. There are always struggles. Overall I feel the struggles. We faced taught us all so much we learned about building codes we learned about permits we learned about how to make do with what you have and how to find ways to raise money along the way I’ve always been so thankful to all the people who have supported the idea of our theater and who have dedicated their time and money and supplies to bring the dream to fruition
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a retired special education teacher, but I have always been involved in the arts my very first part as an actor was in 1976 when I was 10 years old, I can still remember the large theater curtain closed in front of me standing on the stage, waiting for it to open, listening to the overture and thinking in my mind I am going to do this the rest of my life. My career is a special education. Teacher started in Germany, where I worked for the department of defense at a school that was for children, whose parents were in the military. I also worked in New York State and Pennsylvania. I’ve always loved children. I’ve always enjoyed watching children learn, and grow and I think one of my qualities is figuring out the best way to teach children and adapt to whatever needs they may have. I use all my skills from my long career in education to help the children in my theater learning grow.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I was born in the city of Lebanon and I grew up in Myerstown. I’ve moved away many times, but always come back home. I love the heritage of Lebanon. I love the diversity of Lebanon. I love walking downtown Lebanon, and looking at some of the beautiful buildings and remembering the days my mother and I would shop downtown Lebanon. One of the biggest concerns I have about the city of Lebanon are there many children I see riding E bikes and being unsafe. I myself had a terrible experience involving a young person on an E bike, who was not following traffic rules. I use my theater and the time with children to discuss safety to discuss feelings they have about any topic as well as reinforce the fact that they can always come to me or other staff members at the theater if they are worried about anything in their lives, I try to make the St. James players a place, not only for fine quality theater, but also a community where everyone is loved for who they are accepted for who they are and encouraged to learn and grow in a safe environment our theater has a focus on children, but I’d like you to know that people of all ages are casted in our productions. Our audition notices will often say ages 5 to 105 are welcome to audition this summer. We produced the Wizard of Oz we had ages five to several people in their 70s..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thestjamesplayers.org
- Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/sjplayers
