Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1241553
A Gathering Place Awaits– Mountain Play 2020 Sunday, May 3, 2020 26 In this unprecedented and turbulent time most of us are grieving, and our hearts are heavy for those who have faced the loss of a loved one. e solace we've found is in memory and in stories. Some say people live on as long as they are remembered, and that may have been how storytelling began. Here is one about a great friend. Early this year the Mountain Play lost a very bright star. He came on the scene about the same time as our fearless producer Marilyn Smith – in fact she recruited him to the Mountain Play. Gage Schubert was a guy who was deeply involved in the community. He rolled up his sleeves and got things done for the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, the West Point Inn, Marin eatre Company and many others, which is why Marilyn called on him to join the Mountain Play Board of Directors in her early days as Producer. She knew that, if he agreed, he'd give 100%. Over the last forty years, Gage has had a hand in many projects on the mountain but always said his favorite part was what he called the "tables and chairs". He was indeed humble, and would happily volunteer to sell ice cream or help take out trash, but his passion was to solve problems. He designed and built the disabled access platform and came up with the idea of using a golf cart to transport patrons from the gate. He designed the food booths and then ran the ice cream booth. He came up with a novel solution to the parking problem by organizing a roundtrip stagecoach ride from Mill Valley to the play -- a ticket for four that included a catered lunch and reserved seats…all for $250. Gage saw what was needed and he always stepped up. As a safety precaution, way before radios could call an ambulance, he figured out a way to run wire from a telephone pole on the road, through the park to a new phone booth he installed in the woods. ere it remained, looking strangely out of place, until well aer cell phones were the norm. As President of the Board, Gage not only showed up on the mountain as a hands-on leader, but he was also one of the largest donors to the Mountain Play in history. Marilyn sometimes told a story of driving down Blithedale and, seeing Gage approaching in his old truck, she waved him to stop and hollered out the window, "Gage we need $10,000 dollars!" Sure enough, it would appear in the mail. Gage was the person who could be counted on in a pinch, not every year, but especially when the need was great. It can be said that he kept the organization alive through the recession in 2009 -- not single-handedly of course. But Gage was the rock we leaned on as the waters were rising. e Mountain Play was always in his heart and Gage will always be in ours. ank you Gage Schubert, for your passion and your generous friendship. We promise to keep your memory alive. Remembering Gage Schubert Gage Shubert receives the 2012 Tamalpa Award fr om Sa ra Pe arson