Yakima's Warehouse Theatre builds connections with DUI Court volunteers

Are you prepared to state your New Year’s resolution when the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1?

If not, never fear. The network morning shows have created some lists that you can tune into. You can always do a Google search and find “65 Achievable New Year’s Resolutions for Building a Happy, Healthy Life” from Good Housekeeping. Or perhaps a more manageable “55 Best New Year’s Resolution Ideas for 2024” from Parade?

Things being what they are today, you might just skip Google altogether and go straight to an AI resource. When I typed in “10 New Year’s Resolutions,” I got a lovely list including old tried-and-true items like “prioritize health and fitness” and “read more.”

One item that all these lists share — and therefore one that bears noticing — is the resolution to become a volunteer in 2024, to “give back to the community” and “dedicate time to a cause you care about.”

Since volunteerism is the lifeblood of the work at the Warehouse Theatre Company, it is tailor made to serve as a resolution solution for just about anyone. Every production contains hours and hours of volunteerism just waiting to happen.

Of course, no matter what changes you vow to make, the easy part is making the resolution, right? It’s one thing to plan your work, but quite another to work your plan. Being successful at carrying out a resolution takes, well … resolve.

One need look no further than WTC board member Teagan Headding to find resolve in action at Yakima’s community theater, though.

Headding has been a member of the company since 2014 when she first rolled up her sleeves and joined the effort to build the set for “Into the Woods” just prior to her senior year at Eisenhower High School. As a veteran of all things theater at Ike, she worked side-by-side with Warehouse veterans for weeks to construct the set, break it down, then re-assemble it for performance at the 4th Street Theatre.

She took a break from theater after high school because she had a retail job that wasn't schedule-friendly. She was excited to get back into it when she got a 9-5 position, but then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and she had to wait it out.

She has been making up for lost time ever since. Her volunteerism includes set work, sound work, lighting work and virtually every other backstage job. She serves as a board member of the WTC and is a key person on the company’s marketing and tech committees. And this month she was cast in her first official on-stage role as Tansy McGinnis in “The Nerd,” a comedy that opens Feb. 16.

“Technically this is the first show I’ve been cast in at WTC. While stage managing ‘Little Women: The Musical,’ one of our cast members got sick on opening night, so opening day I was called to the theater, fitted for a costume, and understudied that part opening weekend,” Headding said.

From the outside looking in, that would seem like enough, wouldn’t it? But Teagan Headding’s connection to the Warehouse Theatre Company created an opportunity for her work life to dovetail with her theater life in unique and powerful ways.

DUI court

Headding works as the program coordinator for the Yakima County DUI Court. As such, she is part of a team of professionals dedicated to a singular mission, to promote public safety through intensive court-monitored treatment and assistance of high-risk repeat DUI offenders. The belief here is that a “get ‘em off the street” approach toward those cited for driving under the influence is not one that leads to lasting success. The DUI Court team is out to increase public safety and save lives by changing lives.

Therese Murphy, DUI court administrator, says that the program is intended to break the cycle of addiction common to many repeat DUI offenders. The aim is to identify non-violent DUI offenders who are third- or fourth-time offenders and get them into the program quickly.

“These repeat offenders clearly have issues that are more severe than just taking a drink then getting behind the wheel. If that was the extent of their problem, they wouldn’t be repeating the behavior after the first arrest," Murphy said. 

“Our goal is their success. And that happens through abstinence, recovery and honesty.”

The 18-month program uses a collaborative approach designed to hold offenders accountable with a focus on public safety and measurable reduction of DUI offenses. A multi-disciplinary DUI team works with each participant to establish a personalized program that includes treatment, abstinence and regular appointments with probation officers. This therapeutic court team includes a judge, a representative from the county prosecutor’s office, the public defender’s office, a treatment specialist, two probation officers and a sheriff’s deputy.

Knowing that the possibility of relapse after completion is a challenge, the program also has a re-entry specialist who works to identify barriers to success. They offer community referrals toward education, medical, housing, employment, mentoring and volunteer programs.

Building connections

And that’s where the Warehouse Theatre Company comes in. A key tenet of the DUI Court is that volunteerism – giving to others without an expectation of receiving anything in return – builds healthy connections to the community. In fact, team members often work right next to participants in volunteer settings. However, until recently the bulk of volunteer work open to participants in this program has been faith-based.

“The need to offer more secular volunteer choices was pretty clear. It took a little while to think of it, but it suddenly hit me that I volunteer tons of time at the Warehouse, so maybe our participants could find ways to work there, too," Headding said. 

It occurred to her that the WTC needed ushers for each of its shows and that her program might be able to fill the void. After a presentation to the company’s board of directors including a Q and A session with Headding, Murphy and DUI Court Judge Alfred Schweppe, a plan was struck. The WTC and DUI Court would partner to offer volunteers from the program a chance to usher one weekend of each show’s run.

“We took it slow at first as many of our folks haven’t been to any theater whatsoever. They thought it was a place for suits and ties and highfalutin’ people,” Murphy said. 

That initial feeling of intimidation dissolved quickly, though.

“We’ve been able to break down some barriers and show just how accessible this community theater can be. It’s an example of an activity that is pro-social without being tied to drinking – something that is not always easy to find,” Murphy said. 

Theater-making often requires outside-the-box thinking. Perhaps that’s why Headding was the first to see the potential of this partnership. Whatever the reason, both entities are glad she did.

“It’s really great to see the response from participants. I even had one usher at a matinee performance ask to do it again that night! And I’ve heard nothing but positive comments from our usher coordinator who is excited to know that slots are guaranteed to be filled," Headding said. 

Murphy counts the partnership a success as well.

“We’ve had folks volunteer several days in a row, and they plan to continue. In fact, one of them said he intends to volunteer with the theater after completing the program," Murphy said. 

The Warehouse Theatre Company often stages plays featuring an underdog overcoming great odds to reach a seemingly unattainable goal. With few exceptions, the hero’s journey is punctuated by setbacks that force them to accept wise counsel and guidance to take the right path.

It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that the Yakima County DUI Court program and the programs of the WTC would form a win-win connection. They share a view of the possible. One that kindles hope in the face of adversity. Both are determined to make this partnership work in the coming year.

You might say they share a resolution. It’s all about resolve.

• Vance Jennings is executive director of the Warehouse Theatre Company. The company contributes a column in Explore every four weeks.