Seattle Central Community College Receives $25,000 from The Seattle Foundation

Funds to Support Erickson Little Theatre Off Broadway Renovation

Seattle, Washington, June 29, 2002 – Seattle Central Community College is pleased to announce that it has received a $25,000 gift from the Seattle Foundation to help renovate the Erickson Theatre Off Broadway. The gift is part of a $1.6 million campaign focused upon extensive renovation of the theatre that houses a drama program known for evocative, groundbreaking performances and for developing successful drama talent.

“We are both pleased and thankful that The Seattle Foundation has decided to support this worthy renovation project,” says Seattle Central President Charles H. Mitchell. “Their generous donation will help us in our efforts to educate our theatre students and provide a state-of-the art facility that will be an important resource for our community.”

The current theatre facility was built sixty years ago as an autobody repair shop and converted to a temporary performance space in 1981. While Seattle Central’s theatre arts program has grown in stature over the years, this current space lacks the basic necessities to support the program.

The renovation will focus on fixing pressing safety and accessibility issues and create a technically up-to-date, audience-friendly community performance space that will include better lighting and sound systems and expanded seating capacity. It will also connect Seattle Central’s Fine Arts complex (which houses drama department classrooms) directly to the theatre complex.

Since its inception, the Erickson Little Theatre Off Broadway has served as the ideal training ground for hundreds of aspiring actors to hone their acting skills and move on to successful careers. Graduates from this program have excelled at elite college programs around the country and found success in the theater, film, and television industries.

Seattle Central’s campaign partners include Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Cornish College of the Arts, Empty Space Theatre, Freehold Theatre Lab and many other organizations who will all benefit from this renovation project.

The Seattle Foundation was established in 1946 to improve the quality of life in the greater Seattle area. Each year, it distributes millions of dollars in grants, responding to the changing community and reflecting the priorities of foundation donors.

In addition to the gift from The Seattle Foundation, Seattle Central has received major gifts from PEMCO Insurance and The Allen Foundation for the Arts.

For more information, please contact Seattle Central Foundation Director Susan Bean, at (206) 934-5484.