Rec center could play a vital role in community

With the help of Mrs. H, Cookie Monster and Big Bird, we learned our ABCs. A busy time of sharing snacks, art for little hands, singing and playing in our cardboard box kitchen, and physical education on our very own grassy spacious playground.

Now with the Damascus Theatre Co., I am in my 14th year as scenery artist. It is the 23rd season for DTC and we are ‘‘on the road” with ‘‘Gypsy.” It will open Oct. 26, right across the way from the rec center at Clarksburg High School.

This is a golden opportunity for the county and community to show support for the arts. Keep the Clarksburg Rec Center open, as is, and use it for rehearsals, classes, construction and storage of costumes and flats for current productions.

Design a Community Arts Park that will annex the new center. The new center could be built with a large multi-purpose stage, floor and riser seating and rooms for dressing and studio activities.

Eventually, it will become an affordable, accessible venue for recitals, meetings, film festivals, concerts, gallery exhibitions and especially, the Damascus Theatre Co., as it continues to bring a ‘‘Bit of Broadway, Live Theatre” to our loyal audiences in local communities season after season.

Judy Feola, Gaithersburg

The writer is a scenery artist with the Damascus Theatre Co.