OUR HISTORY
IVRT HAS LONG BEEN BRINGING QUALITY THEATRE TO THE COMMUNITY.
Inland Valley Repertory Theatre, Inc. (IVRT) was founded by Frank and Donna Marie Minano in 1990 and is a registered not for profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. IVRT’s mission, since its founding in 1990, is to culturally enrich the community by presenting high quality classical and contemporary theatrical works, and by fostering the talents of artists of all ages through educational outreach programs. In its first seven years of operation IVRT produced 29 shows involving hundreds of cast members of all ages. After a hiatus from 1998 to 2007, company members sent out a letter of intent to revive IVRT along with an invitation to two productions in repertory during the summer of 2007 at the University of La Verne’s Dailey Theatre. This campaign generated $26,000 in seed money, and IVRT was back in business. Seeking a permanent home, IVRT first approached University of La Verne, but the university theatre schedule could not accommodate a repertory season as was hoped for. Instead, the Minanos approached the Bollinger family who own the Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont with a unique niche marketing idea, perform midweek runs of plays on the Candlelight stage when it (and most theatres) is “dark,” upcycling the sets as appropriate for the plays IVRT would produce. This concept of “Wednesdays Just Got Dramatic” has served both organizations very well since 2008.
IVRT demonstrates creativity and innovation in meeting the needs of the La Verne community by developing relationships with partner organizations through its membership in the La Verne (and Claremont and Upland) Chambers of Commerce. One example is IVRT’s partnership with senior centers including Mt. San Antonio Gardens and Hillcrest, whose residents have been entertained by IVRT productions for decades. In addition, IVRT began a collaboration with the Cultural Arts Society of La Verne in 2017, to showcase local talent. IVRT’s educational outreach program, Camp IVRT and I Love Chorus, collaborated for several years with the Community Arts Weekend Festival at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in La Verne, giving youth the opportunity to perform for the festival attendees. In addition to the above-mentioned programs, IVRT worked in partnership with the David and Margaret Home in 2017 to provide after-school arts enrichment classes for the young women in residence, as well as the University of La Verne’s annual Family Literacy Conference.
IVRT promotes volunteerism in two ways. First, through its Volunteer Guild, IVRT Guild members usher at performances, help with hospitality and concessions, plan fundraising events, and more. IVRT recruits volunteers at the Hillcrest Wellness Fair and is committed to senior wellness experiences. In addition, IVRT’s Next Generation Council promotes volunteerism to high school students. High school students have volunteered as teaching assistants for the summer musical theatre Camp IVRT workshop program, gaining soft skills as well as teaching skills. High school youth have also ushered at IVRT performances and have assisted with outreach such as IVRT’s participation in the La Verne Fourth of July parades. One of the most-loved aspects of the IVRT community is its intergenerational diversity.
Having maintained a balanced budget since inception thanks to strong leadership, IVRT has stood the test of time and continues to draw new audience members, ever expanding its reach and its impact while always moving forward with prudence. IVRT’s governing board of trustees is 100% committed to IVRT’s growth, as evidenced by its collective stewardship and by each individual member’s financial support of the organization.
For over thirty years, IVRT has made a positive and worthwhile impact on the local community in several ways. IVRT’s educational outreach programs include Camp IVRT musical theatre workshop for youth providing $6,000 in scholarships to underserved youth populations to attend the summer camp in 2021, an active internship program that provides real world, paid experience for 3 college students as well as training opportunities that provide soft skills for 14 high school students. And to date, IVRT has produced 115 full length plays and musicals, entertaining and culturally enriching the lives of between 3,000 and 11,000 people (roughly the seating capacity of the Toyota Arena in Ontario) each year for 30 years. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced a lockdown in March of 2020, IVRT pivoted almost immediately and managed to produce eight plays and musicals virtually online in 2020, including the creation of a documentary for its 30th anniversary celebration, plus a virtual Camp IVRT musical theatre workshop for youth. Then in 2021, IVRT performed another eight virtual plays and musicals, a live outdoor event in San Clemente, weekly “Wednesday Wags” online interviews with local artists, virtual and in-person Camp IVRT for youth, Readers Theatre after-school drama club, and a live return to the stage on November 10.
Perhaps some of the best proof of IVRT’s impact comes from testimonials of residents who have supported IVRT since 1990, such as Claremont resident Gloria Slosberg, La Verne resident Walt Schaefer, Rancho Cucamonga resident Cheryl Clark, or La Puente resident Lora Bennitt. And, as seen in their interview in the documentary “30 Years of IVRT” on IVRT’s YouTube channel, one of the youths who participated in IVRT’s earliest educational workshops is now the father of one of our Camp IVRT youth, carrying the tradition of “Theatre is My Sport” to so many youths (of ALL ages) who “live their best lives” and simply effervesce when given the chance to express themselves onstage. The heart of IVRT is just that: fostering the talents of artists of all ages and entertaining, educating, enriching, and employing the community through great theatre art.