Olympic Theatre Arts

Mission:
Serve as an artistic, cultural and economic resource through theatrical productions and educational programs that entertain, stimulate, and inspire community involvement..

History:
In March 1980 Richard Waites presented the one-man play, Krapp’s Last Tape, at the Old Dungeness Schoolhouse. The success of that production prompted a group to form and present two plays in the next year, including A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur directed by Olivia Shea, and from that Olympic Theatre Arts was launched.

Within three years, it became evident that there was a need for a permanent location and, with the support of many in the community, the Howard Wood Memorial theatre was created at 132 ½ Washington Street in Sequim. A Neil Simon play, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, was chosen to open the theatre in March 1983.

Since its beginning in November 1980, Olympic Theatre Arts has produced many well-known and very well-received plays, including a variety of comedies, musicals and dramas. But OTA has also presented quality lesser-known works that challenge the audience and encourage community involvement, such as the 1998 production of River Gone Run, co-produced with the Jamestown S’Kallam Tribe. With the production of The Little Foxes, by Lillian Hellman, in March 2004, OTA reached a milestone – the production of their 100th play.

Through these years OTA has been sustained by a dedicated group of talented directors and actors. The organization has built a reputation for quality theatre and draws audiences from the North Olympic Peninsula, the Seattle area and even farther. In an effort to continue to provide the highest quality in their productions and serve the community with more extensive programs and educational opportunities, OTA realized the necessity for a new, more accessible facility. In 2001 generous community donors helped raise the down payment to purchase the former Methodist Church building at 414 N. Sequim Ave. from then owners, the Boys and Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula. In the same year, Johnston Architects won the bid to design the renovation of the graceful building into a 159-seat live theatre and additional gathering hall for use by the community for meetings, social events and other presentations. Located in the heart of Sequim, and with its long history of service to the community, the renovated center will continue its traditional role as a community resource.

Olympic Theatre Arts Mission is to serve as an artistic, cultural and economic resource through theatrical productions and educational programs that entertain, stimulate and inspire community involvement. The new community arts center is designed to help OTA fulfill that mission through an expansion of programs for both adults and children.

Fourteen years ago, OTA reached out to the children of the community and began the sponsorship of the Missoula Children’s Theatre annual production, and thirteen years ago began the sponsorship of the children’s Summer Arts Camp. The children’s’ programs, including a joint effort with the Boys and Girls Club, will be expanded to include classes and other productions within the additional functional space. The new facility will be accessible to seniors and the handicapped, and allow the expansion of workshops and special presentations to those segments of the population.

Beyond being a new theatre and home for Olympic Theatre Arts’ programs, the new center will be a multi-purpose community meeting place to benefit everyone in the community. Olympic Theatre Arts is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit community theatre organization and belongs to the community. The Board of Trustees is made up of individuals from the community at large, and it is the open support of the entire North Olympic Peninsula that has sustained OTA and is creating this new center. The organization has been made possible by the dedicated energy of talented community members over the past 25 years. In recent years, that group has grown to include donors, business leaders and community members who are dedicated to the renovation of the Olympic Theatre Arts Center. In 2003, and Honorary Board was named, under the Chairmanship of Brown Maloney, to carry the vision of this accessible community gathering place and performing arts center even further into the communities they represent.

After many volunteer hours spent in the initial renovation of selected interior and outdoor areas and the design development for the complete remodel and renovation of their new home, the Olympic Theatre Arts Center again presented The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, this time in September, 2004 in the new The Gathering Hall. The theatre is well on its way to completion for its 2005 productions.