Bishop - Final curtain call for Forum Theater?

An oft-repeated statement about artists goes something like, “The value of their work won’t be fully appreciated until after their passing …” Perhaps there may be some truth within that sentiment when it comes to an artist’s venue, too.

The Forum Theater in Lone Pine celebrated its second anniversary earlier this month. A creative metamorphosis at the hands of artist April Zrelak transformed a section of garage on North Jackson Street into a unique coffehouse and theater. The Forum has presented musical performances, shown films and documentaries, and served as a gathering place for local residents and visitors alike seeking food, drink and conversation. Photo by Ken Koerner

Evidence that could be the case may reveal itself in the ominously-near future, as the fate of the Forum Theater in Lone Pine now seems to hang in the balance.
Two years ago, April Zrelak was laboring to give birth to a special new arrival on the creative scene of the Eastern Sierra. Zrelak had had a vision growing inside her that “if she built it, they would come” – artists of all varieties, that is.
Zrelak recognized the rather austere landscape in the southern section of the Owens Valley’s high-desert setting wasn’t only defined by geology and annual rainfall totals; there was more to it than that – it also extended to the rather bleak picture for performance spaces in which a multitude of artistic endeavors could be presented, shared and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
Her realization led to the creation of such a place just off Lone Pine’s Main Street. The transition from the cluttered, unfinished garage space at 141 N. Jackson St. to an inviting spot for locals and visitors to gather for performances – and just for engaging in congenial conversation – marks a significant improvement since she first entered into a lease for what has become the home of the Forum Theater.
“Initially, I wanted to do something similar on a somewhat smaller scale in Independence,” said Zrelak, “but the ‘right space’ just wasn’t available.” Zrelak’s determination to pursue this venture led her to the current Lone Pine location on North Jackson Street.
“When I first walked into this place,” noted Zrelak, “it was pretty much a bare-bones mess, but there were a few aspects of the setting that I found encouraging, too.”
Zrelak explained that her motivation to invest so much time, energy and money was not entirely based around establishing a space for musical performances, showing films and showcasing a particular artist’s work. “I really wanted to create a place where people in the community could come together for some food and drink and just engage in conversation,” she said. “Before it closed, I always enjoyed that aspect of my neighbors in Independence mingling at the Pines Restaurant in that way … I loved seeing the old-timers gather for breakfast and talking about what’s going on in the world – or just down the street. That was a big part of why I wanted to make this all happen.”
“Making it all happen” has been a much more difficult task than Zrelak had imagined. “In the end,” said Zrelak, “everything cost more and took longer than anticipated … like the process for getting a beer and wine license – that in itself seemed like a full-time job.”
Whatever was required to make her vision for the coffeehouse and theater take shape was what its creator was determined to provide. The Forum Theater boasts a two-tier stage; a commercial-quality, audio/video theater system; a “permitted-kitchen”; a commercial espresso machine; and the tables, seating and furnishings that complete the setting.
An artist herself, Zrelak also created bas relief sculptures that add dimension to the terra-cotta walls she hand-finished to enhance the “relaxed and welcoming environment” she’d envisioned.
Southern Inyo resident Mark Long is among those who feel strongly the Forum Theater deserves to remain a creative option. “If the Forum Theater were to close permanently, it would be a huge loss for Lone Pine,” he said. “The atmosphere here is unlike any other place in the area.”
Long, an accomplished guitarist in addition to being an environmental health specialist and a private pilot, has performed alone and with others during the two years in which the Forum Theater has been in operation.
“It’s been great for a lot of local people,” said Long. “For some of us this place was our first opportunity to play in public. Before April opened the Forum local performers sat together in someone’s living room on a Saturday night to play – but there’s been something very special about being on-stage at the Forum and having an audience react positively to our music.”
Long was also instrumental in pulling together some local residents to form a “co-op.” “April first spoke of closing a few months ago,” noted Long, “so a number of us chipped in to keep the place alive and to help defray some of her costs,” he said. “We were open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in that way and the co-op was holding its own.”
Then when a buyer indicated that they would be purchasing the business from Zrelak, noted Long, “We basically disbanded the co-op; then when that person failed to really come through it wasn’t easy for a co-op to re-form and get going again, fast enough to really matter.”
That area residents would make the effort to band together and pool monies bears witness to their perception of the value of having the Forum Theater as a creative option for their community. “In Bishop,” said Long, “you have the theater and other options for access to events … this is the only place in Lone Pine that affords the same – and in a relaxing, calm atmosphere.”
Long expounded on the situation thusly, “Statham Hall is a county facility,” and can be rented, but it’s not a place where you can drop-in and share experiences like has been possible at the Forum Theater.”
Zrelak pointed out that it hasn’t only been Eastern Sierra performers who have entertained audiences at her Lone Pine venue. “Cerro Coso Community College students did a comedy performance here,” Zrelak said, “and we had a packed house for them. They received so many donations from the patrons in attendance that night that their teacher got up afterwards and said he was embarrassed, and ‘This is the most money ever given to our students for a public performance.’”
Musical acts appearing at the Forum Theater have traveled outside the area, too. When she learned from a Lone Pine resident that a group he’d “sat in with” was slated to appear at a blues festival in Ridgecrest, Zrelak was able to book the Ray Drew Blues Band from Wichita, Kan. to appear for what turned out to be a sold-out show at the Forum. “People,” said Zrelak, “are still asking me to try and get them to come back again.”
Zrelak noted that the diversity of activities and events that she has hosted at her unique locale has included a “major-election political debate,” a magic show, martial arts demonstrations, a wine tasting, travel presentations, weekly film club meetings, birthday parties, a clothing exchange and even a wedding reception. “The place lends itself to a lot of different sorts of situations,” said Zrelak, “but it’s really been the creative performances and the chance for people to gather spontaneously that has been the most consistent and satisfying for me.”
“It’s a difficult situation,” Zrelak said, “to be faced with the need to sell the Forum. But the hardest thing is the idea that there wouldn’t be anything else like it in southern Inyo – people here need and deserve this place.”
Zrelak explained that spending so much more than planned in creating her business – coupled with her admission that she “isn’t the world’s most astute marketing-mind” – has left her in the position where she feels the need to sell. “I’d be very happy,” Zrelak said, “to continue as a manager of the Forum for a new owner … I just have to face the financial facts at this point of needing to recover some of what I’ve invested.”
For now, at least, the theater is dark and the kitchen is closed. Zrelak encourages anyone wishing to learn more about the Forum Theater to contact her at (760) 878-8292.