FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2018
Contact: Katie Marcel
Katie@LivermoreShakes.org
925-443-2273
www.LivermoreShakes.org

Innovation Tri-Valley Founder Chairs Livermore Shakes Capital Campaign

Dale Kaye

(Livermore) – Dale Kaye, Founder and Senior Consultant of the regional business consortium, Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group (ITV) will lead Livermore Shakespeare Festival’s Capital Campaign Committee as they raise funds to build and operate a Black Box Theater in downtown Livermore as part of the new Stockmen’s Park. A Black Box theater is a small, flexible, modular space. Seating is flexible and movable to accommodate different needs. Lighting and sound are set up to accommodate different set ups and viewing from different angles. The number of seats can vary from 100-199. This Black Box theater will serve the entire region, and addresses the pent up demand for small to medium scale year-round productions.  In addition to LSF, other performing arts organizations who cannot afford a larger venue, will be regular users.

Kaye’s career experience spans many successful years as CEO of the Livermore Chamber of Commerce and before that, Vice President of Gold’N Hen Productions, a subsidiary of MSI Entertainment.

“One of the greatest challenges in growing our region as a tech hub is attracting workers to the Tri-Valley. With the high cost of living, many recruits are skeptical of the vibrancy of our region. Proximity to arts education is considered extremely valuable both nationally and internationally. LSF’s Black Box theater will be a creative hub for residents and visitors of all ages,” states Kaye.

The Capital Campaign committee also includes Lori Souza, David Kent, Don Sweeney and current Livermore Shakespeare Festival

Lori Souza

Board Chair, Laura Batti and Board Director, Ellen Goold, as well as Supervisor Scott Haggerty (Honorary).

Souza recently retired as Associate Deputy Director of the Lawrence Livermore National Lab and serves in numerous community leadership roles including the Rotary club of Livermore Valley, the Las Positas College Foundation and the Tri-Valley Conservancy.

David Kent, longtime Livermore resident and owner of Darcie Kent Vineyards, served 12 years as CEO of The Wine Group after which he left to help his wife and daughters start up their small estate winery. As CEO, David transformed The Wine Group into the world’s most cost and carbon efficient vintner, then ranked as the 2nd largest wine producer in the world by volume with revenue exceeding one billion dollars.

Don Sweeney retired from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory after serving as the Program Manager for the Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography project and is an experienced grant writer.

The company’s board is represented by Laura Batti, owner of Metier Marketing and Communications, and Ellen Goold, who serves on the Livermore Valley Education Foundation Board of Directors and is a Realtor with Legacy Real Estate.

The committee, along with Livermore Shakespeare Festival staff and the community groups slated to utilize the Black Box Theater, will promote the plans for the centrally located creative space. The group will work to secure the $8M in funding required to build and develop the building. The building is to be privately funded and the organization already has pledges of over $1.5M as they embark on the fundraising campaign.

“I have been a longtime patron and supporter of Livermore Shakes and I am passionate about preserving and enhancing the quality of life for our community. Livermore Shakespeare Festival’s expertise in arts education and producing live theater will make optimal use of this space” concludes Souza.