Scott Lynch has been involved in local community theater for over 10 years and has performed with SVCT & Limelight . He lives in Gilroy , attended Gilroy schools , and graduated from Stanford University with BS and MS degrees in Industrial Engineering . He is currently the president of South Valley Civic Theatre .

( SVCT ) was on a roll in 2020 . This amazing year packed in new productions , new producers from diverse backgrounds , and the expansion of performances at Gilroy ’ s Limelight Theater — the space they acquired in January and began renovating soon after . The future looked promising and the group was ready and able to take the reigns as South County ’ s premier theater company .

March Madness ; Shelter in Place

Like all small non-profit organizations SVCT ’ s roll came to a hard pause when news of shelter in place broke . They realized quickly that best laid plans can fail due to forces beyond one ’ s control . As our communities recoiled into their respective safe spaces and small businesses , organizations , and agencies found themselves flat-footed , SVCT was no exception . The all-volunteer group had one week left of their successful , sold-out , teen show “ Rock of Ages ” run . Their next shows , “ Cabaret ” ( at the Morgan Hill Playhouse ) and “ Tigers Be Still ” ( at Limelight in Gilroy ) were in rehearsal . Hard conversations and hard decisions had to be made .

“ We could have probably done the last show but decided to cancel ,” Elizabeth Mandel , SVCT VP of Publicity recalled , citing the uncertainty of public safety and the host of unknowns

that all gathering places had to grapple with . “ We shut it down ,” Mandel said , confident the organization made the best decision given the information available — or not available , at the time . “ We refunded everyone .”

With that decision , South Valley Civic Theater came to a screeching halt . All shows were cancelled . All rehearsals stopped . The hammers and drills , saws and paint brushes — to that point actively building stages and props for upcoming shows — were all put down . There was an eerie silence . We all felt it .

With no playbook and little clarity regarding the implications of COVID- 19 and related mandates , SVCT — like most small businesses and organizations , sustained a crushing blow . Then , as all successful small businesses and organizations do , SVCT took the hit like a seasoned prizefighter and quickly found their feet again .

“ We have a small , nimble group of creative people . A few of us are drivers , others are doers , and we all did the best we could ,” Mandel said . “ I am proud of our tenacity and vision .”

Rising from the canvas , SVCT picked up their hammers and used the opportunity to make lighting and design updates at Limelight Theater in Gilroy . They purchased a green screen , new cameras and lighting — everything needed to build a new sound stage in their Morgan Hill warehouse . There , they had ample room to begin production on a series of one-person readings and two-person plays , while ensuring safe distancing protocols . They began streaming their newly produced readings and plays online at no cost to the public . For other online plays , they began filming from the now completely renovated stage at Limelight , creating simple sets as an alternative to using the green screen . For still other productions

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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN WINTER 2021 gmhtoday . com