Back in 2005 a group of ExPats formed BCP (Boquete Community Players) to provide residents with some live entertainment and the opportunity to have fun acting in theatrical productions. The first play was performed in a meeting room upstairs from Banistmo (now HSBC) Bank on Main Street to an audience of about 75 people.
Then, BCP found a temporary home downstairs in the same building in which they began. Community volunteers donated time and money to renovate this facility. Unfortunately, this only lasted 9 months, and then BCP was homeless, but not helpless. Plays continued to be performed in various restaurant locations throughout town.
One fine day, luck smiled on BCP and Anayansi Menendez, a local business owner, offered BCP a virtually derelict building to BCP with a 5 year lease. It was perfectly located across the Feria bridge downtown. The venue had spaces with great potential that could be re-engineered into a theater and event center, and it even had a parking lot! Another generous resident donated some fixed seating units and a design was under way. People in the community were very generous with their time, money and talents and after months of grueling work, the new BCP Event Center was opened in November of 2009.
Today, the BCP Theater & Events Center is the hub of the ExPat community’s entertainment life. The Tuesday Morning Meeting is now held there….a weekly meeting that presents speakers who are authorities on subjects of interest to ExPats that provide vital information to make living in our new home town even better. There is also a period where announcements are made about new businesses, activities and services that share information with us all. The TMM is held every Tuesday at the BCP Events Center beginning at 10:30 am and ends around 12 noon.
The Tuesday Market began in a previous, temporary location and when it was moved to the BCP Events Center it grew even more. The Market is open from 9 am to 12 noon every Tuesday. Vendors offer desserts, freshly baked breads, organic produce and packaged foods, arts, crafts and lots of other items for sale. There’s a huge selection of previously love books where people donate and buy new reading material, DVDs, etc. This used book sale donates all its proceeds to some local charities. It is manned by Irene Haines, who has lugged boxes of books to and from the meeting every week for several years. There’s also a Community Service table where local good works are presented. Volunteers are always needed, so check out these tables when at the Tuesday Market.
Click to see the vendors who participate in the Tuesday Market
BCP Theater produces several dramatic, comedy and musical performances every year, and other producers and directors are welcome to rent the theater for putting on their own performances. There’s a great deal of talent in Boquete, including professional actors, directors, producers and choreographers. And, for those without on-stage talents, there are lots of behind the scenes jobs to be done such as wardrobe, makeup/hair, set design and construction, sound and light technical, audio visual recording and editing, stage management, helpers, ticket takers, bartenders, ushers and every other kind of assistance to make things work well. We are fortunate that we have lots of people who want to get involved, but we always need more. Join in the fun, and get involved with BCP Theater & Events Center.
BCP Theater & Events Center has a big Lobby/Lounge, a Hexagon Party Room with kitchen, and the wrap around Riverside Patio. The theater has 112 fixed seats, a tech booth, full stage with dressing room and storage.
Click to see the BCP Theater & Events Center as it is today
If you’d be interested in holding your special event, party or production… contact Theater Manager .
To become involved in one of the BCP Productions…just contact Resident Director .
If you’d like to support BCP and take advantage of special offerings to members…. contact Membership Director .
To suggest a speaker for the Tuesday Morning Meeting… contact Speaker Coordinator .
