Who We Are
&
The Goals of the Cutter Theatre

The Cutter Theatre, located in the small (pop. 225) isolated town of Metaline Falls, is a non-profit Cultural Center founded in 1968 to "develop appreciation and understanding of performing arts in our community." This mission has since been expanded to include visual arts and humanities. The Cutter Theatre believes that art transcends communication barriers of race, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, and age to minister directly to each person's inner needs.

• Preserve the arts
• Present the best quality of performing arts.
• Educate young theatre students in the skills necessary
• Present high-quality arts at a price our economically-depressed audience can afford.
• Provide art opportunities that entertain, educate and inspire both audience and artist.
• Provide a facility where our community can celebrate its culture and experience other cultures.

• The Cutter Theatre began in 1968 when a local businessman asked some local people to put on a play. The group continued one-play-per-year operation for many years, putting on a musical during the community Down River Days celebration in the high school gymnasium or an occasional play at a local restaurant. In 1987 the long process of obtaining federal 501(c)(3) and state non-profit status began, including the election of officers and board members and the composition of Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. In 1991, the theatre finally came home by purchasing the historic Metaline Falls School, a 30,000 square foot, three-story brick building designed by renowned architect Kirtland Cutter. With lots of help from local volunteers, individual and business donations, and corporate, county, state and federal grants, the long-vacant 1912 school has been converted to a Community and Cultural Center without peer. Since its opening in September, 1991, The Cutter has averaged 22 different events per year in its new facility. In addition to its arts and humanities programs, The Cutter Theatre is an historic building on the State and National Registers of Historic Places which houses a Rural Schools Exhibit, a branch of the County Library, health and business offices, school performances, and private and community celebrations.

We offer a unique internship program

Volunteers

Over 90 volunteers work together throughout the season to provide assistance to the Theatre. These "Angels," as they are called, participate in many projects including fund raising, opening night parties, ushering, transporting company members, "adopting" an intern for the season (making them feel "at home") and distributing our season posters and flyers. They save us hundreds of dollars by not having to pay someone to accomplish these essential tasks.

We actively strive to be an integral part of our community.

We are proud of our cultural contributions to our local communities and to the preservation of The Cutter Theatre. We are committed to continuing to present superb theatre and to train theatre students. Our major efforts are focused on the following areas:

We design and build everything needed for the productions "from scratch."

This vital program teaches theatre students all the intricate skills needed for the production of the theatre. These students represent the future of American theatre and they will bring rare talent to other communities across the country and ensure the continued legacy of the American Theatre. We have a deep commitment to this program and would like to expand it.

We would like to initiate this program for the benefit of the Northeast Washington communities.