Leslie Alan Coates

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  www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081204-OPINION-812040 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 12/1/2008    Last Visited: 12/5/2008  

  Blast No. 1: The long lost Leslie Coates was finally in touch. Coates performed at Prescott Park and Seacoast Repertory Theatre, then went on to found Gamaliel Theatre, a critically acclaimed, small company out of Durham. He drifted off about three years ago. He's back. Sort of. Just in slightly different venues.
  
  So first, where did he go? "A few things happened at once ... there was the theater, my dream that failed ... at the same time as having a baby," says Coates. "So, when those things happened together like that it was very hard to start something new."
  
  Fast forward to today, Coates has pulled together poet Maren Tirabassi and longtime collaborator, composer/musician Christopher Cote and created a small one-man Christmas show, which tours regional churches.
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  "The ministry theater stuff started a year ago with a project Chris Savage and I did 'Luke Retold.' That was also Tirabassi's works. ... Did South Church in Boston, and (others), trying to get something off the ground," Coates says. "This is kind of the next thing and the first thing I feel that has hit the ground solid." He's booked 10 churches. "It's all free admission.

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  BIG News - BIG Online's Funding Opportunities... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/1/2003    Last Visited: 11/10/2008  

  "We looked at parks systems across North America and we realized that with the increasing shortage of funds we needed to do something," remarks Leslie Coates, Executive Director of the brand new Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation.
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  Coates says the need for her organization is underlined by the experience of public parks in the United States. When municipal support dropped off, "their parks got bad and then dangerous ... Coates says the local parks department is taking care of business inside its pre-determined geographic areas.
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  Coates says her foundation seeks to act as a "supplement or an enhancement" to the parks department's work and - in other cases - to undertake projects that wouldn't otherwise happen.

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  Exeter News-Letter Currents: No more kidding around - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/16/2004    Last Visited: 5/27/2004  

  Cote has become friends with the play's producer, Gamaliel Theatre Company's Leslie Alan Coates.
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  "It is funny, thinking back, how I was reluctant to introduce myself," says Coates.
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  "It is my opinion, he is a very strong composer, a strong lyricist and a good playwright (and in that order)," Coates says.

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  Gamaliel Biographies - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/8/2006    Last Visited: 11/8/2006  

  Leslie Alan CoatesArtistic DirectorEmail: leslie@gamalieltheatre.comLeslie has been acting and directing in the Seacoast since he and his wife Trisha moved here three years ago.As a performer he has appeared in Seacoast Repertory Theater's Of Mice and Men, The Bible: The Complete Word of God Abridged, Smokey Joe's Café and Prescott Park Arts Festival's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.He has directed many shows, all original works for Gamaliel Theatre Company, including Johnny Fish and Other Ambitious Beginnings, Travelers: A Holiday Journey, and The Man Who Laughs.Leslie received a BFA in theatre from Emporia State University and MFA in musical theatre from San Diego State University, and often draws on his experience in San Diego with Lamb's Players Theatre Company for guidance.He is excited by the continual challenge of offering new creations of theatre while maintaining safe and welcome environment in Gamaliel Theatre Company.

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  Portsmouth Herald Editorial: A financially healthy... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/7/2004    Last Visited: 1/8/2004  

  Leslie Coates, executive director of Gamaliel Theater Productions, read our Dec. 17, Page 1 story about the meeting, "Survival of the fittest plagues theaters," and contacted both SRT and Kirkwood.As a result, his company will rehearse its production of "Dinner with Friends" at the Arts Rochester space and stage it at SRT's Kittery, Maine recital space beginning Jan. 16.
  
  Coates, meanwhile, will provide some vocal instruction to help out the folks at Arts Rochester.

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  Portsmouth Herald Entertainment: Beginner's luck - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/11/2006    Last Visited: 7/11/2006  

  Gamaliel's Executive Director Leslie Coates started bragging about him before "Caesar" even played an audience.

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  Portsmouth Herald Local News: Growing up - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/6/2004    Last Visited: 4/7/2004  

  Cote has become friends with the play's producer, Gamaliel Theatre Company's Leslie Alan Coates.
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  "It is funny, thinking back, how I was reluctant to introduce myself," says Coates.
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  "It is my opinion he is a very strong composer, a strong lyricist and a good playwright (and in that order)," Coates says.

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  Portsmouth Herald Local News: Seacoast actors in short... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/6/2004    Last Visited: 5/7/2004  

  Actors are trained to take work regardless of the wage, at least while building a resume, says Leslie Alan Coates, an actor and artistic director of Gamaliel.In addition there are community performers looking for experience and opportunity.But it can get old fast, given the time demands, he says.
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  They're very giving," Coates says, voicing an unpopular comment.
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  Because few locals perform for the money, a non-cash incentive is possible, says Coates.
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  "If I understood the (problem) I'd circumvent it somehow," says Coates.

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  Portsmouth Herald Local News: Seacoast actors in short... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/6/2004    Last Visited: 5/12/2004  

  Actors are trained to take work regardless of the wage, at least while building a résumé, says Leslie Alan Coates, an actor and the artistic director of Gamaliel.Community performers, too, are looking for experience and opportunity.But he admits it can get old fast, given the time demands.It's hard to imagine a huge influx of quality performers at current wage rates.
  
  "You can't pay $300 (for a full run), then piss and moan you don't have real talent. … Apparently we don't seem to understand what it takes to pay a pro.They start at $300 a week, anyway," said Coates."There are so many elements, but I feel strongly about this piece of the pie."
  
  Certainly some companies can't afford it, but there needs to be an attempt at more equity, and, yes, he adds, the audience deserves a better-caliber production.
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  They're very giving," Coates said.
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  I'm not doing it yet," Coates said."I congratulate audiences for waiting it out.But we need to raise the bar, bring in (actors) from other areas and simply pay them."
  
  Because few locals perform for the money itself, a non-cash incentive is one idea, says Coates.
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  "If I understood the (problem), I'd circumvent it somehow," said Coates.

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  Spotlight Cover Story: Have a ball - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/24/2004    Last Visited: 11/24/2004  

  The piece is an adaptation by Artistic Director Leslie Alan Coates of a holiday poetry, compact disc by Seacoast writers Neil English, Rebecca Rule and Maren Tirabassi.
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  "It is a fully staged theatrical exploration through the heart of Christmas, brought to you by a group of people who celebrate the reverence and joy of the season," says Coates.

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