Uncovering a community treasure

The Pearl Theater brings a variety of entertainment to Boundary County

BONNERS FERRY — The Pearl Theater is aptly named.

Standing on the hill just off the highway since 1894 is the community’s treasure — an historic building transformed into a real gem, especially for Bonners Ferry, a community without a performing arts center until nearly 10 years ago, when Carolyn Testa toured what was the Community Fellowship Church.

“I saw in the newspaper that the building was for sale,” said Testa, “and I called Jim (Greenslitt) and told him, ‘I don’t want to waste your time. I’m not your buyer, but the next time you show the building, I’d like to go inside for a tour.”

Well, that tour changed the future for the performing arts in Bonners Ferry.

In her mind’s eye she saw every part of it as what it could be as a theater — such as the pastor’s study could be turned into the green room, etc.

Testa bought the building.

That was in May 2011. One month later, the first production was staged at The Pearl Theater. It was a children’s show — “Seussical Jr.,” followed by the first official performance, “An Electric Romance,” a play directed by Paul Rawlings, produced in October 2011, which was very well attended.

In the interim, Testa said she and ex-partner, Robert Hanover, worked so hard. She first bought the bleachers from the old middle school and took them to a mill and had them made into flooring, with four coats of polyurethane.

There was no stage. They built a stage, a commercial kitchen, and she realized the potential of the acoustic tile walls by covering the blue paint over with a softer taupe hue, then using grocery store bags and on a three-story scaffolding, did faux painting over the taupe.

Testa took the flower print floor from an old hotel that was being razed, and put it in the bathrooms. She bought new chandeliers that looked like old chandeliers. They installed old vanities. The most expensive and most difficult piece of the renovation turned out to be the re-wiring. She had to have all the electricity re-wired to code; there could be no more exposed wires.

“The theater is perfect for an intimate concert experience with a seating capacity of 157 and we are well supported by volunteers who believe in the arts,” Testa said, adding that her heart’s desire is to see more area residents turn out for the performances. “It breaks my heart when we have quality performers such as Bridges Home come to perform, and only 40-60 people come out,” she said, adding that people tell her it is difficult mid-winter to go to the theater at 7 p.m. when it has already been dark for three hours.

Jessica Tingley, president of The Pearl board, said the theater became a non-profit organization in late 2012. The Pearl is one of two nonprofits in Bonners Ferry that participate in the fundraising Idaho Gives campaign each year. Now the board pays $411 to its mortgage each month. The $3,010 donated through Idaho Gives this month will allow the theater to pay its mortgage and heating through the fall, but Tingley and the board are aware of the other needs — roof replacement, bell tower renovation due to structural problems, and painting of the siding — and it welcomes all donations to the theater.

Tingley, who works at Far North Outfitters in the logo shop, is a former dancer and dance teacher. She worked back East on the booking side of her ex-husband’s band. She said it is never fair to ask for performers to play “for exposure.” The Pearl pays its performers fairly, she said.

She loves The Pearl and is proud of the performances it has hosted, with special fondness for the Kelly Irish Dancers. Performers have included Bluestreak, Ruff Shodd, Devon Wade Band, Leon Atkinson, The Powell Brothers, Sara Grey, Almeda, Runaway Symphony, Beth Pederson, Josh Harty, and Pamela Benton.

One popular show was local teacher Paul Bonnell’s artistic chronicling of his journey back to Vietnam to find out about his biological mother, said one local resident, Ed Katz.

Another popular presentation was a raptor rescue show; the Birds of Prey brought in birds, one a golden eagle.

“We couldn’t have it at the wildlife refuge because it was during the government shutdown, Dec. 5, 2018,” said The Pearl’s longest-serving board member, Denise Crichton, who said the Missoula Children’s Theatre was a huge hit when it performed at The Pearl.

Tingley is a volunteer, as are all seven board members, “but it is a working board. It takes 20-40 hours of work to prepare for one show,” she said, and it is blessed to have a fair contingent of crew volunteers who come in and set up and take down chairs, among other tasks.

A café in the back, in operation during the shows, and run by Nora Robbins, is known for its delicious food offerings, sweets, and desserts; beer and wine are sold, as well. “Everyone raves about the food at The Pearl,” Crichton said.

Tingley said The Pearl will offer free movies on Fridays when the theater reopens, hopefully, this fall.“We are working with Swank Productions to provide a movie experience you can’t see at home,” she said.

She also revealed the location of the best seat in the house — row two in the soft church pews in the balcony. “That’s the sweet spot,” she said, though the sound is purportedly knockout anywhere in the theater.

For more information about how to donate to the theater, or to become a member, go to www.thepearltheater.org.