Our History
Olympic Theatre Arts has been staging plays for the Olympic Peninsula since 1980. It all started when Richard Waites produced Samual Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape at the Dungeness School House and asked for support to create a community theatre for Sequim. Shows continued at the school house until in 1983 when, with the help of the community and a grant from Howard Wood, OTA was able to renovate the Old Fellows Hall at 132 1/2 West Washington Ave and open the "Howard Wood Memorial Theatre." Productions continued there until 2003. In 1996, the City of Sequim recognized its need for a ground level community theatre in its Comprehensive Plan. In 2001 The Boys and Girls Club announced the sell of their facility at 414 N Sequim Ave. OTA's Board Chair, Elaine Caldwell, tested community support by setting up a booth in the Sequim Farmer's Market and raised $25,000 in one day to make the downpayment for the Boys and Girl's Club facility. Renovations took 10 years. The current theatre, named after Elaine and Bob Caldwell, opened in 2010 with the production of Cabaret. Sequim continue to support community theatre and arts outreach to this day.
Our Facility
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Main Stage: The Elaine and Robert Caldwell Main Stage has a large stage with intimate, raked house seating for 160 patrons, a light booth, scene shop and dressing room. In recognition of their dedication to the completion of the OTA Center project, the Main Stage venue has been named the “Elaine and Robert Caldwell Main Stage.”
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Gathering Hall: The Gathering Hall is a flexible open space. It was the original sanctuary of the 1929 church that was the foundation of this complex. It makes a natural stage setting for some of OTA’s second stage performances and dinner theatre presentations. The vaulted ceilings and high arched windows make it a lovely setting for private parties or fundraising events. During OTA’s Main Stage productions it is used as a pre-function and intermission assembly area for gathering with fellow patrons while enjoying assorted concessions. The renovation of the Gathering Hall was made possible in great part by the Rotary Clubs of Sequim which donated much in-kind labor to complete the project.
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Catering Kitchen: Located next to the Gathering Hall, OTA boasts a full catering kitchen, making it possible to offer food service facilities for private parties, dinner theater, and other community events. OTA hosts events for members throughout the year as well as those honoring OTA volunteers. Having a catering kitchen allows more creativity in food service—making any of these events that much more special.
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Green Room: This 280 square-foot room located up a short flight of steps and immediately adjacent to the Main Stage dressing room is a comfortable space for the cast and crew to convene during a show. It has abundant natural light, a fireplace, and flexible furnishings—also making it a good space for meetings of up to twenty, or other small gatherings.
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Our Facility is AVAILABLE FOR RENT. Contact us to learn more.