Dear Friends,

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The first time I officially met Pendragon Founder Bob Pettee, aside from watching him on stage, he was crawling through a dark, cobweb-filled basement so I could borrow a settee for the Lake Placid Drama Club. That simple act – one of many – showed me that since the beginning, Pendragon Theatre has not only stood for artistry, but also a commitment to the community.

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Today, Managing Director Mike Aguirre and the team carry on that same tradition. You’ll find him in the audience at Saranac Lake musicals and Lake Placid musicals and plays—always present, always supportive. Pendragon’s leaders, past and present, understand that theatre is more than a performance; it’s a connection.

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I’m proud of the work we’ve done to build Pendragon’s new home. The former space might have been rough around the edges—too hot, too cold, never quite pristine—but it was filled with heart, and it was a place where you could see extraordinary theatre. This new theatre will carry that heart forward, in a facility that is welcoming, accessible, and built for the future.

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Last year, my students had the unforgettable experience of meeting longtime Pendragon artist Hannah K. Wall backstage after watching her shine in Come From Away at Proctor’s Theatre. In that moment, my students saw a direct line between the stage they know in Saranac Lake and the American professional theatre, and it made the dreams in their own lives feel so much more real – and possible.

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As a teacher at LPHS; as an actor and artist; as a father; and now as a Board Member, I’ve seen firsthand the magic of Pendragon.

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I’ve watched students light up when they’ve experienced the School Tour Productions and glow with pride when their own plays were brought to life in the Young Playwrights’ Festival. And nothing compares to seeing them step onto the Pendragon stage themselves—sometimes even sharing it with me, like this past summer when Dylan Duffy and I performed together again in the magically local Twelfth Night.

We are close to the finish line, but we need your help to get there. Every gift matters. Your support ensures Pendragon continues to enrich our community today while inspiring tomorrow’s theatre-goers and artists. I hope you’ll join me in ensuring Pendragon’s next act is its strongest yet.

 

Please give generously today and thank you in advance,

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Brenden Gotham