The Waldo Theatre Board of Directors announced their search for new committee members late last month as part of renewed efforts to repair and reopen one of Waldoboro’s most iconic establishments. The Waldo Theatre, built in 1936, closed since 2014.

“While there have certainly been bright spots, the theater has faced challenges in the last decade,” said acting President Melissa Smith. “We’re looking for committed people with the skills to help us overcome those challenges and make the Waldo, and downtown Waldoboro, thrive.”

A building and grounds committee has been working for the last several months to evaluate issues related to the theater's facilities, and new committees of fundraising, publicity, and programming were established at a special meeting of the board July 26. The board is looking for community members with skills and/or interest in those areas to join the committees, Smith said. Each committee will be chaired by a board member and will lead the group in reaching pre-determined goals.

“Both the board and the community at large want the Waldo to get back to the business of entertainment and enrichment. It will take work and it will take time – please consider how you can help,” Smith said.

Smith is one of the board's seven current members, all of whom have joined the board within the last year.

“The board has been working hard over the last 15 months to find its footing,” Smith said. "Though all of us have had the theater’s success at the forefront of our minds, there have been disagreements on how to achieve it. In consideration of that, along with expressions from the community of a need to change the composition of the board, several board members recently agreed to resign their positions.

“We appreciate those board members’ willingness to step aside, and give thanks for their contributions of time, effort, and funds over the years,” Smith said. “Their passion for and dedication towards the Waldo Theatre is an inspiration to us all.”

Concurrent to the work set in play by the committees, members of the board will be working on a strategic plan for the Waldo. “It has been several years since an official business plan was written for the Waldo Theatre and it’s definitely time for an update," Smith said.

The Waldo Theatre Board of Directors meets regularly on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Feyler’s Corner Community Club. The meetings are open to the public.

For more information or to join a committee, contact Melissa Smith (music@thewaldo.org), or follow the Waldo Theatre on Facebook.