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JPAS Needs Your Help

While attending the delightful production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast at JPAS this past weekend (take your kids, it's a wonderful evening!), an alarming situation was brought to my attention.  We here at TheatreBelowSeaLevel urge you to read the following letter and give JPAS the support and help it so desperately needs and deserves.

AN URGENT LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY: The Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) is capable, uniquely qualified and has earned the right to manage the new Jefferson Performing Arts Center.

Dear JPAS Patrons, Friends and Supporters:

Recently, Jefferson Parish issued a RFP (Request for Proposal) to solicit firmsinterested in managing the new Performing Arts Center currently under construction on Airline Drive. This is the second issuance of the RFP. The first was issued two years ago and there were only two applicants - JPAS partnered with the prestigious firm VenuWorks from Iowa, and another applicant from Texas. This RFP was cancelled and no one was chosen. JPAS is again enthusiastically competing in this current RFP, along with at least three other firms who have expressed an interest. We appreciate the Parish's diligence in choosing the best firm to manage this new performing arts facility, and we look forward to the process. We sincerely believe that any fair and impartial evaluation process will conclude that Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) is capable and uniquely qualified to manage the new Jefferson Performing Arts Center. Equally significant, JPAS has earned the right to manage this spectacular jewel in our wonderful parish of Jefferson.

JPAS has competently and aggressively managed and contributed to the steady growth, development and expansion of the arts in Jefferson Parish for 32 years. No other competing applicant can list anything similar in its resume. JPAS currently operates and manages three theatre spaces in Jefferson Parish, producing over 150 performances annually. We regularly tour with our productions to other cities in Louisiana and Mississippi. We have emerged as one of our state's largest arts organizations, unmatched in the diversity of our programming.

Since our founding, we have been the lone voice calling out to local leaders to build an arts center for Jefferson Parish. Eventually we approached our state leadership -- specifically, Senator Ken Hollis and the late Senator John Hainkel -- and in 1999, JPAS secured a written $15 million pledge. We recommended the site in the LaSalle Park. No other entity has devoted as much time, energy and resources into making the new theatre a reality. Even our more ardent critics agree that JPAS was the main catalyst to build a new arts center for Jefferson. Without JPAS, nothing would be under construction and there would be no performance venue to manage.

Over the past 32 years, JPAS has achieved "ground-breaking" accomplishments for Jefferson by producing and presenting nearly every imaginable art form on our stages. But there is more to the story than the obvious impressive stage offerings. Deeply committed to arts education, JPAS has cultivated many young talents who have grown into successful, productive and contributing members of our community as performers, arts teachers and technical artists, and also as business people and parents. JPAS is proud to have played a role in this development. The experiences, confidence and spirit instilled through the efforts of our arts programs still strongly vibrate in the hearts of many. In real and meaningful ways, our greatest achievements cannot be seen on stage; rather, they are visible in the positive impact our work has had on so many of our participants and in our community of Jefferson as a whole. JPAS has a great thing going, and we owe it the next generation to keep it moving in the right direction and add to this positive momentum.

We appreciate the tremendous responsibility Jefferson Parish has in making sure this new facility is well managed. We are not asking for a favor. We are asking for parish leadership to take a closer look at what JPAS has given this community and the passion we possess for serving our citizens. Why not allow the organization whose passion and commitment to the arts, this parish and this project take its rightful place of leadership in the new Jefferson Performing Arts Center? When you consider what we have accomplished in the arts in a high school auditorium, just imagine what we could do in our new state of the art theatre. We ask Jefferson Parish to do the right thing, please.

The remarkable achievements and contributions of JPAS are among the best kept secrets in our community, and it is time that changed. Please help us pro-actively promote JPAS. JPAS is a viable home-grown entity with demonstrated capabilities and unique qualifications to manage the new performing arts center. JPAS has indeed earned the right, with 32 years of work, service, effort and success. JPAS knows Jefferson Parish like no one else, because JPAS is Jefferson Parish.

We want the job, and we will fight for the job. With the support and vocal assistance of you, the good citizens and friends of Jefferson Parish, we will be selected. Most importantly, the selection of JPAS will enable us to continue our long history of service and achievement, accelerating our efforts to artistically and culturally enrich the community for you, the people of Jefferson Parish.

We urge our patrons, supporters and friends to contact the Jefferson Parish Council and tell them you want JPAS to manage the new performing arts center. Our historical contribution to this project as well as our 32 year history of growing, supporting and producing the arts in Jefferson Parish cannot be denied. Please, see below for more details on our work and our history with this project.

Sincerely,
Dennis G. Assaf, Executive/Artistic Director and the JPAS Board of Directors: Chairman, HANNAH J. CUNNINGHAM;  President, DANIEL "DANNY" BRUZA;  Vice President, DEBBIE ROUEN; Past President, MELODY J. RITTER, M.D.; Secretary, JACK SLOAN, CFP; Treasurer, DAWN LABORIE, CPA; Nominating Chair, FREDDIE G. LANDRY; Counselor, PAUL DEAL; Members of the Board: MARCUS BLACK, M.D., JAMES R. DOUGLAS, JR., M.D., DAN GARVEY, SHARON HANNAHAN, ROBIN HOUSTON, MICHELE KRAFT, ARIS KYRIAKIDES,  MICHAEL A. ROPPOLO, MSS, ATC, CSCS,  JOY SHANE

Historical Contributions:  A Case for Selection of JPAS:

One of the stated goals and indeed JPAS' "Primary Directive" since its founding was and is to build a state-of-the-art performing arts facility in Jefferson Parish. We have never wavered from this goal. Since our founding, we have been the lone voice calling out to local leaders to build an arts center for Jefferson Parish. Eventually we approached our state leadership -- specifically, Senator Ken Hollis and the late Senator John Hainkel -- and in 1999, JPAS secured a written $15 million pledge. We recommended the site in the LaSalle Park. No other entity has devoted as much time, energy and resources into making the new theatre a reality. Even our more ardent critics agree that JPAS was the main catalyst to build a new arts center for Jefferson. Without JPAS, nothing would be under construction and there would be no performance venue to manage.

In 2004, Senator John Alario (then Representative Alario) asked us to manage the two new facilities in Westwego.  He recognized our abilities, accomplishments and leadership in the arts and, to use his words, he "scooped us up."

Since 1987, JPAS has been performing in the East Jefferson High Auditorium. While we sincerely appreciate the Jefferson Parish School Board's generosity in granting use of the EJ Auditorium, it is an artistically challenging facility. However, this didn't stop us from improving it by constructing the second largest orchestra pit in the metro area (it is even larger than the new theatre's pit) and installing new seats, sound and lighting equipment all at our own expense. Every step of the way over these many years, JPAS has overcome huge hurdles to educate and enrich this community in the arts. Now our dream of a new arts center is finally becoming a reality and we are ready to continue our leadership in the arts as the new performing arts center becomes complete.