Larry, Franki Torres honored as ambassadors for the arts

Larry and Franki Torres and their family members are involved in the arts.

By Tony Reverditto

Larry and Franki Torres are the honorees of Arts Council Menifee’s first “Ambassador Spotlight”. The Board of Directors decided to spotlight them for their tireless efforts and contributions to ACM's signature events, including Menifee's Got Talent, Summer Nights and Mystery Dinner Theater. Larry has brought his technical skills, as well as his quiet "can and will do" attitude, to every event and Franki 's organizational and people skills have helped insure a smooth production for all involved. If available, the two of them can always be counted on to help.

Larry and Franki were both born and raised in San Bernardino. They had been married 10 years when they made the move to Sun City in 1993, immediately falling in love with their new small town and its semi-rural environment. Larry worked as a Surveyor/Civil Engineer for Cal Trans District 8 and commuted to San Bernardino. Franki was a stay-at-home mom for a few years and then went back to work teaching in Menifee USD. They both retired in 2015. Their three children, Eric, Garrett, and Kimberly, all went through Menifee schools. It is through them that they became involved in the local arts community.

A couple of years after they came here, they found that some of their new friends, and their children, participated in the Ramona Pageant in Hemet. Larry and Franki’s kids were interested and auditioned and were cast as “Children of the Rancho”. They volunteered to help and Franki assisted the Children’s Director and helped with the children backstage while Larry worked wherever was needed, even playing a role as Pablo, the Bell Ringer. The family continued their involvement in the Ramona Pageant for five seasons.

Along the way, their son Eric was introduced to some of the technical aspects of producing the show, such as the sound board. This introduction led to both Larry and Eric learning a great deal about sound production. In 2001, their son, Garrett, was cast as “Joe”, the settler’s son, and was the youngest to have had that role up until that time. That led to Garrett being involved in performing for Broadway Bound and Fine Arts Network in Temecula, and Paloma Valley High School, where he had the privilege of performing under the direction of Greg Newman in many excellent productions. In addition, all three of their kids were in band in middle school. Eric continued through high school and Kimberly was in choir and took dance lessons.

Franki and Larry credit their children for their introduction and continuing involvement with the arts in the community and they happily continue the journey. They believe that the arts bring joy to both the artists and to those who experience the art, and are an essential part of a strong community like Menifee. During the years the children were involved in theater at Paloma Valley High School, Franki and Larry joined TABA (Theater Arts Booster Club), where they met Bill and Colleen Ackerman, whose children were also active in theater. After retirement, their friendship with the Ackermans led to volunteering to help with various community arts events.

Colleen Ackerman, President of Arts Council Menifee, has known Larry and Franki for years, as mentioned above. When asked why they were worthy of this recognition, she said, “Franki and Larry are behind the scenes 'worker bees', always helping to make our events successful and memorable. They continually offer their knowledge, energy and enthusiasm to support ACM and our mission.”

We asked Larry and Franki about the arts in Menifee and they collaborated on their answers:

How do you think the arts have evolved in Menifee since you first moved to Sun City?

When we moved to Menifee, it was an unincorporated area and not even a city. There really wasn’t anything available as far as the arts is concerned. We have made some good progress.

Why do you think it is important for Menifee residents to support and get involved in the arts?

As people, we are multidimensional. The diversity of experiences we enjoy add richness to our lives. We need to be enriched by the arts, whether it is visual art, music, or other performing arts. Art is another facet of our humanity and it is important for our community. We want our city to offer these experiences. This is where we live and our community is part of us. Menifee should offer its people opportunities for enrichment, as both artists and those who enjoy the talents of others. This requires the support of the members of our community as well. Menifee is its people and we all have a responsibility to help our city reach its potential as a inclusive and creative community, which benefits all.

What do you hope to see as the Menifee’s arts scene progresses into the future?

We would love to see venues for promoting the arts. We shouldn’t have to depend on our schools or travel to another city for our children to be able to participate in the arts or to develop their own artistic abilities. There is work underway on the development of a Community Center and it seems that spaces for displaying artworks, a performing arts area, and rooms for various activities are to be included. This is a positive step. Hopefully, this will be just one step of many in promoting the arts in Menifee.

For information on the latest events, to get involved or to make a tax deductible donation, visit www.artscouncimenifee.org