For decades, Vashon-Maury Islands’ reputation as an arts destination has been on a slow burn. Each year, more off island visitors come here for visual arts — our biennial open studio tour — and live music — Strawberry Festival, Park concerts, and more.

Now, with original works by Drama Dock (“Wingehaven Park”) and the latest Vashon Repertory Theatre hit (“The Story of Edgar Sawtelle”) it’s clear live theater is coming into its own as an equal partner in our thriving arts economy. Arts tourism is the primary economic driver that benefits all the island’s ancillary businesses in a healthy symbiotic relationship.

The no longer “new” Vashon Center for the Arts gallery and auditorium is a linchpin in that economy that itself requires off island as well as local support to survive. Live theater is helping to attract patrons and build our fan base.

Take it from Kirkland resident Tim Brace, who said: “My wife and I cannot say enough of how wonderful “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” was. … The actors and playwright surpassed our expectations. This was our first time on Vashon Island after living 14 years in Kirkland. Thank you for putting on the play at one of the most beautiful theaters we have been in and for giving us the opportunity to explore the island. We are definitely looking forward to returning to your theater and the island — this time for a longer stay.”

We are fortunate to have an abundance of theater practitioners on our islands, attracted by our rural beauty, who are willing to contribute their talents to our blossoming theater community.

With an eye toward building an accessible talent base, five of the island’s theatre companies are collaborating to host an open call for theater practitioners in November. The leaders of Vashon Repertory Theatre, Drama Dock, UMO, 14/48 and the Vashon High School theater program recognize that coordinating events and consolidating talent will strengthen the quality and draw of live theater on our island.

These groups are producing shows that, in many cases, cannot be seen anywhere else. And, unlike off-island venues, ours are accessible. In order to remain so, these theater companies need island patronage as well as financial support.

Our all-volunteer Chamber of Commerce does what it can to support island businesses, but without a specific tourism office, members need all the help they can get to bring in visitors and their cash. When island performing arts offer renowned quality, all ships rise.

Imagine this — an off-island couple goes online to reserve a weekend package that offers two nights in a seaside Airbnb, a list of art galleries to visit with Vashon Island Growers Association farms along the route; reservations to kayak on Quartermaster Harbor, coupons to the restaurants of their choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner, wine-tasting stops, tickets to a live play one night, an outdoor concert the next, and a matinee on Sunday afternoon.

The package would include a calendar of island events from Stupid Bike Night to Halloween to the Night Market, movies, music venues, restaurants and places to stay, because they’ll have to return to see it all. We do have it all — and live theater is helping to make that known regionwide.

Yes, there are those who have protested the growth of arts tourism here for fear of altering the island’s rural character. It’s wise for island residents to be vigilant about retaining Vashon’s “weird,” rural nature, and it’s possible to have both so we all can have meaningful work, a diverse economy and a vital, creative community in which to live.

Charlotte Tiencken is the founder and producing artistic director of Vashon Repertory Theatre. Susan McCabe is the marketing communications manager of Vashon Repertory Theatre.