Whitworth Universtiy built Cowles Memorial Auditorium in 1956. Cowles is now a completely inadequate building, and does not provide the needs of a modern theatrical education. Cowles is in need of significant infrastructure investment, remodel or replacement, to be an adequate educational facility for the students of Whitworth University. As an educator, and artist, who values my experience at Whitworth I cannot, in good conscience, let this valuable program languish in the impoverished conditions any longer. I ask the Administration for three things:
1. A clear plan to address the needed upgrades, or new construction, of the facility to make it a vibrant part of the Whitworth Community. This includes, but is not limited to: Increasing classroom space, creating a modern theatrical performance space that utilizes current theatrical technologies, making the entire facility ADA compliant.
2. An institutional commitment to continue an investment in the facility and infrastructure (lighting, sound, automation, rigging, networking etc.) to better train actors, directors, designers and technicians in current theatrical practice.
3. A renewed enthusiasm for recruiting quality students to the theatre program, and a commitment to supporting those students from their first day on campus, to graduation, and out into the workforce.
Take a moment, and sign this petition to have your voice heard.
Updates
November 14, 2016
The stories shared in the comments prove that the current state of Cowles is failing our students every single day. I am currently compiling these accounts to deliver directly to the administration. Text this petition link to three fellow alumni right now so we keep the pressure on the board.
November 14, 2016
The momentum behind this call for a new auditorium is undeniable and shows the administration that our community expects better facilities. Post this link on Facebook now to keep the pressure on. Send an email to the university board today demanding they prioritize these educational upgrades.
17 Comments
I have been so blessed by my theatre education at Whitworth, but a vibrant and relevant theater facility was not present and still is not. Faculty make more than due, they make magic with the limited resources of the outdated Cowles Auditorium, but they and the students deserve more. As a high school theatre teacher, I can assure you that students care about studying theatre in an appropriate and equipped space and nearly all are coming from high schools with better theaters than Whitworth has to offer them. Please commit to furthering the recruitment and education of the performing arts at Whitworth University.
Cowles' theatrical resources were outdated and obsolete when I got my technical theatre degree at Whitworth College...in 2001. Fifteen years later, it remains the same, and 15 years more outdated. Please provide future students with a facility that prepares them to enter the workforce of the 21st Century, not the mid-20th Century.
I would like all of you supporters of Whitworth Theatre to know that the department has moved back into the renovated Cowles Auditorium, featuring completely new construction above the stage at a cost of approximately $3 million. Fly-space was added (not full fly, but an improvement) as well as a new rigging system, separate scene shop, new costume shop, better storage for music needs, and a legitimate roll-up door for deliveries (on the Hawthorne Road side). Follow the department on Instagram for photos, and please consider making a gift to the lighting project at www.whitworth.edu/crowdfunding, as we still need some additional new equipment to maximize use of our new systems. Thanks! Finally, we have additional plans in place for a 200-250 seat black box that would be added to the back of the new construction and would meet all of the requested needs for the department. It is fundraising-dependent, but I hope you can agree that Whitworth has finally made a good first step in the right direction. Thought you would all want to know.
The arts make smarter people, support them.
Please, please, please stop passing by the opportunity to remodel Cowles Auditorium. This space is used by creative minds that encourage and spark honest and critical dialogue that is needed for everyone that comes to any performance, convocation, and/or keynote address. This is a ripe opportunity to help create a space that will further the work of these creative minds and make lasting changes for anyone who enters this space!
My word! All I heard during my time as a theatre major was that the auditorium was next on the list. That was over 6 years ago! As a working theatre professional, I can promise you that the facilities in Cowles are nowhere near up to par. Please help future Whitworth theatre students enter the world prepared to work.
It's time. It's actually past time. Having a good theatre is a huge draw and would lead to better things. Your theatre alum are behind this.
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Whitworth Universtiy built Cowles Memorial Auditorium in 1956. Cowles is now a completely inadequate building, and does not provide the needs of a modern theatrical education. Cowles is in need of significant infrastructure investment, remodel or replacement, to be an adequate educational facility for the students of Whitworth University. As an educator, and artist, who values my experience at Whitworth I cannot, in good conscience, let this valuable program languish in the impoverished conditions any longer. I ask the Administration for three things:
1. A clear plan to address the needed upgrades, or new construction, of the facility to make it a vibrant part of the Whitworth Community. This includes, but is not limited to: Increasing classroom space, creating a modern theatrical performance space that utilizes current theatrical technologies, making the entire facility ADA compliant.
2. An institutional commitment to continue an investment in the facility and infrastructure (lighting, sound, automation, rigging, networking etc.) to better train actors, directors, designers and technicians in current theatrical practice.
3. A renewed enthusiasm for recruiting quality students to the theatre program, and a commitment to supporting those students from their first day on campus, to graduation, and out into the workforce.
Take a moment, and sign this petition to have your voice heard.
Updates
November 14, 2016
The stories shared in the comments prove that the current state of Cowles is failing our students every single day. I am currently compiling these accounts to deliver directly to the administration. Text this petition link to three fellow alumni right now so we keep the pressure on the board.
November 14, 2016
The momentum behind this call for a new auditorium is undeniable and shows the administration that our community expects better facilities. Post this link on Facebook now to keep the pressure on. Send an email to the university board today demanding they prioritize these educational upgrades.
17 Comments
Class of 2012 - I worked on more than 40 school-produced shows while pursuing my degrees at Whitworth, and I loved every second of it. However, it is absurd how unsafe and unworkable much of the current space is. Theatre arts are vital to Whitworth's education of mind and heart, and it is time the institution stood behind a department who has been creating magic in subpar conditions for too long. Imagine the magic possible in up-to-date and safe facilities!
I have been so blessed by my theatre education at Whitworth, but a vibrant and relevant theater facility was not present and still is not. Faculty make more than due, they make magic with the limited resources of the outdated Cowles Auditorium, but they and the students deserve more. As a high school theatre teacher, I can assure you that students care about studying theatre in an appropriate and equipped space and nearly all are coming from high schools with better theaters than Whitworth has to offer them. Please commit to furthering the recruitment and education of the performing arts at Whitworth University.
Cowles' theatrical resources were outdated and obsolete when I got my technical theatre degree at Whitworth College...in 2001. Fifteen years later, it remains the same, and 15 years more outdated. Please provide future students with a facility that prepares them to enter the workforce of the 21st Century, not the mid-20th Century.
I would like all of you supporters of Whitworth Theatre to know that the department has moved back into the renovated Cowles Auditorium, featuring completely new construction above the stage at a cost of approximately $3 million. Fly-space was added (not full fly, but an improvement) as well as a new rigging system, separate scene shop, new costume shop, better storage for music needs, and a legitimate roll-up door for deliveries (on the Hawthorne Road side). Follow the department on Instagram for photos, and please consider making a gift to the lighting project at www.whitworth.edu/crowdfunding, as we still need some additional new equipment to maximize use of our new systems. Thanks! Finally, we have additional plans in place for a 200-250 seat black box that would be added to the back of the new construction and would meet all of the requested needs for the department. It is fundraising-dependent, but I hope you can agree that Whitworth has finally made a good first step in the right direction. Thought you would all want to know.
The arts make smarter people, support them.
Please, please, please stop passing by the opportunity to remodel Cowles Auditorium. This space is used by creative minds that encourage and spark honest and critical dialogue that is needed for everyone that comes to any performance, convocation, and/or keynote address. This is a ripe opportunity to help create a space that will further the work of these creative minds and make lasting changes for anyone who enters this space!
My word! All I heard during my time as a theatre major was that the auditorium was next on the list. That was over 6 years ago! As a working theatre professional, I can promise you that the facilities in Cowles are nowhere near up to par. Please help future Whitworth theatre students enter the world prepared to work.
It's time. It's actually past time. Having a good theatre is a huge draw and would lead to better things. Your theatre alum are behind this.
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Class of 2012 - I worked on more than 40 school-produced shows while pursuing my degrees at Whitworth, and I loved every second of it. However, it is absurd how unsafe and unworkable much of the current space is. Theatre arts are vital to Whitworth's education of mind and heart, and it is time the institution stood behind a department who has been creating magic in subpar conditions for too long. Imagine the magic possible in up-to-date and safe facilities!