The Greer Garson Performing Arts Alliance is a diverse coalition of alumni and other arts supporters who are dedicated to revitalizing the Greer Garson Theatre Center.

Engaging with the city of Santa Fe, local arts organizations, local businesses and the entire community, we are focused on reopening this historic theatre in order to house an economically sustainable, multi-cultural anchor facility for ALL of the city of Santa Fe’s vibrant performing arts organizations.

Painting by CSF alum Roberta Aylward (‘91)for the 25th anniversary of the GGTC.

Letter from the President, Tom Bartos

The GGPAA formed with a mission to rehabilitate the Greer Garson Theatre Center and ensure its successful operations for all performing arts in Santa Fe, and the region.

The Greer Garson Theatre Center can become the community hub of the city’s new Midtown District. The momentum for the area is building, with active investments from Aspect Media Village, The Santa Fe Arts Institute, Midtown Area Design Alliance, Sky Cinemas, restaurants, apartments under construction, a reopened Fogelson Library (absorbed by the city’s library system) and the like all being key to a thriving, energized community scene. These attractions, plus the creation of a new Plaza, will only increase foot traffic, revitalizing the area - much like the similarly revitalized Railyard District.

We envision the Greer Garson Theatre to be the place where locals (and tourists) can be entertained by the best performing arts the city has to offer, conveniently located for all, right in the middle of town. And the Greer Garson Performing Arts Alliance feels it is uniquely qualified to guide the way towards making this a reality.

Yeah, yeah... nice talk, but how do we plan on making this a reality?

Money.
The Greer Garson Theatre Center was built because its namesake and her husband were angel investors. Simply stated, they put up the money, and the college put up the buildings with their names on them. (Garson’s husband, E.E. “Buddy” Fogelson has the library he funded named after him.) Today, through our various connections over the years to the arts, business, and finance communities, we are locating angel investors who understand the importance of live performance to a community. Once we find them, we will activate them. How?

Vision.
With a detailed business plan, pitch deck, and video - all of which we are building and refining right now. These things will specifically outline to the folks who would be contributing a substantial amount of money that we know not only what will bring the Greer Garson Theatre back to life, but how to program it to run as a cherished city center for the performing arts. How?

Experience.
The College of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe University of Art and Design graduated hundreds of working professionals who’ve had successful careers in production and business. Between us we’ve won major awards and spearheaded ventures worth millions of dollars. We’ve built theatres, design companies, production houses, small businesses, you name it. And we owe our livelihoods to our time at the Greer Garson Theatre, a place in which we have intimate knowledge. We want to pay it back, and pay it forward. How?

Participation.
We want a seat at the decision-making table. The City of Santa Fe is holding onto the physical structure. We think we can best help them find the right people to rehabilitate the theatre (bring it up to code, improve/update the tech, redesign classrooms into working theatres, etc.). We have developed and continue to seek out relationships with local performing arts organizations and businesses who are all keen on seeing if and how all this can happen. And if all this can happen, they want to be a part of it.

What’s the Buzz?

The midtown campus is prime for redevelopment and the press is amplifying the need and the possibilities

How do we make it a reality?

“You gotta have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?”
- Oscar Hammerstein II

Dream your next:

Performance
Community event
Fundraiser
Gala
Graduation
Film screening
Dance
Ceremony

We all have a stage here. We all have a home here.
Our collective dream is to reopen this theatre.  

Meet the Team

  • Tom Bartos

    PRESIDENT
    With other College of Santa Fe alumni, Tom co-founded The Other Side Theatre in Portland, OR. He also enjoyed a successful fifteen-year producing/acting (SAG/AFTRA) career in New York City before moving into editing, for which he has won three Emmys.

    Contact Tom

  • John Robert Orr

    SECRETARY
    John’s love of Theatre, Stagecraft, and Lighting continues to inform and enrich his professional life. While a Bid Manager during the workweek, John most enjoys engaging the public at craft fairs and cultural festivals with his creations as Funkmaster Lovecraft Studios.

  • Josh Jordan

    TREASURER
    Josh is a 1995 graduate of CSF holding a BFA in costume design. He also has an AA in fashion design from FIDM.  Josh worked for regional theatres in the Houston area for several years before opening his own clothing store called FREEK. In 2004, he got into the world of directing and eventually founded the Red Door Theatre Company. 

  • Nina Zaneta

    BOARD MEMBER
    In high school my traveling theatre group performed at the Greer Garson.  Years later I auditioned and was accepted. It was a magical space for me and so many others.  It deserves to be that magical space again. 

  • Kent L. Whipple

    BOARD MEMBER
    Kent is a storytelling expert and consultant who helps organizations harness the power of narrative to inspire, influence, and connect. He has worked with clients including Microsoft, Yelp, the World Health Organization, and the Gates Foundation. A Moth GrandSLAM winner and PBS-featured storyteller, Kent also leads the storytelling program at Unexpected Productions in Seattle.

  • Kent Fritzel

    BOARD MEMBER
    Kent translated his college training at the Greer into a career producing large scale holiday displays in New York City.  As Executive Producer of the renowned Saks Fifth Avenue Light show and displays for Radio City, Cartier, Macy’s, Dior, and Rockefeller Center, he is honored to bring his creative and corporate experience to the GGPAA.

  • Shauna Earp

    BOARD MEMBER
    Shauna is the owner of S.E.B. Casting, casting television series, feature films and national commercials. She is also a working actor in theatre, film and TV productions around the US. Most recent credits: recurring role Outer Range on Amazon Prime, principal role in Elevation starring Anthony Mackie. Her original award winning show SCRIPTprov, has been running in CO since 2010.