I wanted to let you know about a tragic event which occured at the Studio East Training facility in Kirkland. Studio East is a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing young people to the performing arts through classes, camps, workshops and live theater productions.

Studio East’s Technical Director Marty Eagleson, reported a drip on the sprinkler head in the costume room of their facility. A handyman was called to take a look at the problem, at which point it exploded in this poor guy’s hands. Of course you can’t shut off the sprinkler system unless you’re the fire department, which is what happened.

Black sludge and water from the system flooded the building and destroyed many vintage costumes and props, some of which are irreplaceable.

An e-mail was sent out to parents of Studio East students and within hours, the community banded together. The parents rescued costumes and took them home for cleaning overnight so that they could be returned by morning for the 9 a.m. production of “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” an emotional and moving youth production about children of the Holocaust.

The event ravaged Studio East with 3 inches of water in some areas including the 100-seat theater, and it may take years for the theater program to recover. This catastrophe is just one in a long line of problems that the old and outdated facility has seen. Because of the demand from the community for alternative arts programs due to the budget cutbacks in local public schools, Studio East was already packed to the gills in every corner, nook and cranny.

They’ve pulled friends and family together to help in this crisis, although the real crime is that this will be another blow to the already minimal operating budget of this community-based non-profit.

The Studio will continue to hope for receiving a miracle that will provide for another Eastside building that will accomodate their needs for growth and support the children of this community in a safe and fun environment.

For more information, contact Studio East Founder, Lani Brockman at (425) 827-3123