Phase one face-lift for OTA finished

By Erin Hawkins • October 18, 2017 1:30 am
Olympic Theatre Arts received a $45,000 donation from an anonymous couple that allowed the facility to renovate various parts of its exterior such as the parking lot, sidewalks and the landscape. Olympic Theatre Arts received a $45,000 donation from an anonymous couple that allowed the facility to renovate various parts of its exterior such as the parking lot, sidewalks and the landscape. Submitted photo
Olympic Theatre Arts received a $45,000 donation from an anonymous couple that allowed the facility to renovate various parts of its exterior such as the parking lot, sidewalks and the landscape. Olympic Theatre Arts received a $45,000 donation from an anonymous couple that allowed the facility to renovate various parts of its exterior such as the parking lot, sidewalks and the landscape. Submitted photo

Guests attending performances at Olympic Theatre Arts no longer have to walk on a gravel path to the entrance, thanks to recent upgrades to the nonprofit’s facilities.

An anonymous couple donated $45,000 to Olympic Theatre Arts toward exterior renovations — some of the first renovations since the theater’s opening in 2010.

“We’re thrilled,” Olympic Theatre Arts executive director Carol Willis said.

Marie Jamieson, Olympic Theatre Arts marketing manager, said the theater has a giving tree in its lobby with a wish list of various needs.

The anonymous donors picked a “leaf” off the giving tree and wanted to provide additional renovations to what was listed.

The parking lot was repaved and now include wheel stops, sidewalks were added and replaplaced, the gravel near the parking lot was removed, a paved entry walkway was added with a brick pattern, the landscape was redone with new boulders and rocks and the dumpster was enclosed.

Willis said the renovations started on Sept. 20 and were completed Oct. 3.

“It’s amazing, it warms my heart,” Willis said.

Willis said the theater wants to do a phase two part of renovations, one that would extend the lobby with a story-and-a-half-high glass enclosure.

She said the theater hopes to have a first floor box office — its office is on the second floor — and a semi-circular glass entry aimed toward Sequim Avenue to create a more inviting arts center to the community.

“I think it needs more of a public presence,” Willis said.

“We’re trying to invite the community in. We don’t want to look private and closed.”

Willis said she hopes to start phase two of the renovations one year from now and hopes more donors will come forward to help.

For more information about Olympic Theatre Arts, visit http://olympictheatrearts.org/OTA/.

Exterior renovations to Olympic Theatre Arts started on Sept. 20 and were completed by Oct. 3. These are some of the first renovations to the theater since its opening in 2010. Submitted photos Exterior renovations to Olympic Theatre Arts started on Sept. 20 and were completed by Oct. 3. These are some of the first renovations to the theater since its opening in 2010. Submitted photo

Exterior renovations to Olympic Theatre Arts started on Sept. 20 and were completed by Oct. 3. These are some of the first renovations to the theater since its opening in 2010. Submitted photos Exterior renovations to Olympic Theatre Arts started on Sept. 20 and were completed by Oct. 3. These are some of the first renovations to the theater since its opening in 2010. Submitted photo