The Shoulders of Giants

A word from the Executive Director

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When I was performing at Disney’s Golden Horseshoe and Knott’s Berry Farms’ Birdcage Theatre, I understood I was standing on the shoulders of forgotten giants. Giants like Wally Boag, Steve Martin, and hundreds of other lesser known comedians honed their jokes over thousands of performances before they handed them down allowing us to receive huge laughs with little effort. It was our responsibility to honor their work, as well as add to the arsenal of creative choices, in order to arm the next generation of performers. The same is true of our time together now at Olympic Theatre Arts.

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As we play in this theatre, we are standing on the shoulders of volunteer giants. Giant donors, supporters, and volunteers who, over forty-two years, took this theatre from an idea in the old Dungeness School House, through years on Washington Avenue, to the acquisition of the old Boys and Girls Club building, and the renovations that turned that building into the creative, safe-space we have today.

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But we cannot rest on the shoulders of giants. We must become giants ourselves for the next generations.

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It is with that charge we are endeavoring on major technical system upgrades as a gift to future artists. LED lights will increase fiscal responsibility. Robotic lights will increase inclusion of the mobility impaired. Improved sounds systems will increase audience engagement. New curtains will increase flexibility of design. For this, OTA needs your help. 

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With the excitement of newer performing arts centers, it is easy to be attracted to the new and the shiny. It’s easy to forget to honor what we already have and to take it for granted. However, once we do, the hard work of our parentage is lost at a great detriment to our society. Let us not forget the giants that made us, which allowed us to become giants ourselves, so that we may empower the giants that come after us. If you help us continue this mission at OTA, future artists will look down from great heights and see themselves on your shoulders with gratitude.

David Herbelin, Executive Director

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Major Donations Already Made

Many amazing donors have stepped up to make portions of OTA's Set the Stage Fundraiser possible.

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One donor, who chooses to remain anonymous, contributed $14,500 to purchase a new main curtain for the Elaine and Robert Caldwell Main Stage Theatre, increasing the flexibility of the theatre for many generations. This curtain upgrade not only upgrades the versatility of the theatre, it upgrades the aesthetics and grandeur of OTA

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Another donor and long time supporter of the arts, Nancy Bull, donated funds to pay for the roto-drapes. These drapes will increase safety and versatility in the Elaine and Robert Caldwell Main Stage Theatre as they will allow easy movement of the curtain legs to accommodate different sets without the need of climbing tall ladders.

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Two anonymous donors contributed $20,000 to upgrade the complete sound system. Another donor just announced a contribution of $20,000 towards the lighting system. And $1,500 was given to the general fund for this fundraiser. 

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OTA deeply thanks all of these donors for their amazing contributions. 

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There are still plenty of ways to help contribute to make this system upgrade possible. Please consider any of the following items.

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Curtain Upgrades

• Main Curtain $14,500 - DONATED

Travels across the front of the stage to allow set changes and hide entire productions.  Allows one production to take place on the thrust apron while another is hidden on stage.

• Mid Curtin $9970 - DONATED

Travels across the middle of the stage to allow deeper set changes. Allows greater versatility in set design.

• Roto-Drapes $1620 - DONATED

Puts side curtain legs on rotating and sliding tracks which allows them to be moved into place easily without the need of ladders and rehanging.  This would save hours of labor and increase safety.

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Light System Upgrade 

• Chroma-Q Color One 100 PAR $700 ea. - needed: 10

• Altman Pegasus 6"3000K LED Fresnel $2,200 ea. - needed:14

• Altman SS Cyc 100 mk 2 $1,500 ea. - needed: 4

• ETC Source Four LED Series 2 $2,500 ea.- needed: 10

• or Releve' Robotic Spots $6,000 ea. - needed: 2

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The current lighting system uses 29,275 kWh per month, whereas an LED system would use only 5,508 kWh: a savings of 23,767 kWh per month!

Robotic lights would eliminate the need to climb ladders to refocus instruments and change light colors.

Sound System Upgrades 

• Lavaliere Microphones $960 each - DONATED

Allows actors to be heard more easily, which is the number one concern of most patrons.

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• Variable Dispersion Line Array Speakers $6,000 - DONATED

New speakers will allow greater clarity compared to OTA’s current system which is blown out.

• Yamaha Mixer Board $8,400 - DONATED

New intelligent mixer board would allow newcomers to sound design to learn and operate resulting in more inclusivity and better sound

Please consider donating. You don't need to pay for the entirety of an item. Any amount makes a difference in helping OTA Educate, Entertain, and Inspire many generations of our community.