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.
J
Jordan Peterson
9 years ago
The arts make smarter people, support them.
J
Janelle Smith
9 years ago
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!
S
Shawna Nordman
9 years ago
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.
M
Maery Simmons
9 years ago
Featured
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!
R
Rachel Ewing
9 years ago
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.
S
Stephanie Wiley
9 years ago
Whitworth Theater students and faculty deserve a space that is suitable for training and teaching and performing in.
J
Jessica Loomer
9 years ago
Class of 2012 - I agree that Cowles Auditorium, as a theatrical space, needs major renovations, or ideally to be replaced by a modern and need-specific space. The arts are vital to our world and encourage teamwork, collaboration, creativity and so many more vital skills to the workplace. Sports are not the only subject and facilities that should garner financial support. Please take these many names and supporters under serious consideration for the future advancement of Whitworth and it's programs.
D
Daniel Mark Frazier
9 years ago
Class of 2010, Theatre major. This is absurdly overdue.
E
Emily Hagen
9 years ago
It's about time!
S
Sean Cowan
9 years ago
This is long overdue.
B
Brandy king
9 years ago
Please please as a theatre student we need a new theatre building
S
Sydney Baird
9 years ago
Featured
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.
P
Preston Loomer
9 years ago
Cowles Auditorium is beginning to look and operate in an unsafe and outdated way. The building is older than the parents, and some grandparents of the students taking classes inside of it's walls. Simply upgrading and maintianing existing systems will not be enough, the facility needs replacement for the betterment of the students, faculty, staff, and community coming into it. As someone who had been involved with Cowles as both a student and staff member I can say these things with certain knowledge and judgement. Please replace Cowles with a more suitable facility.
A
Adam Critchlow
· petition starter
9 years ago
It's time to fully support the Theatre Program at Whitworth.
K
Kaylee Pendell
9 years ago
I graduated in 2014 and worked on productions as well as events in the auditorium. Several updates were made in the years I was there, but they are only patches on a building that is not functional. The building is used for not only theatre, but for speakers and artists and it draws large crowds of people to these events. When they come in the theatre they are seeing an outdated space that does not accommodate well a diverse audience. A new building would not only serve potential and current students it would draw a larger crowd for special events.
L
Lauren Jost
9 years ago
Featured
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.
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!
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.
Whitworth Theater students and faculty deserve a space that is suitable for training and teaching and performing in.
Class of 2012 - I agree that Cowles Auditorium, as a theatrical space, needs major renovations, or ideally to be replaced by a modern and need-specific space. The arts are vital to our world and encourage teamwork, collaboration, creativity and so many more vital skills to the workplace. Sports are not the only subject and facilities that should garner financial support. Please take these many names and supporters under serious consideration for the future advancement of Whitworth and it's programs.
Class of 2010, Theatre major. This is absurdly overdue.
It's about time!
This is long overdue.
Please please as a theatre student we need a new theatre building
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 Auditorium is beginning to look and operate in an unsafe and outdated way. The building is older than the parents, and some grandparents of the students taking classes inside of it's walls. Simply upgrading and maintianing existing systems will not be enough, the facility needs replacement for the betterment of the students, faculty, staff, and community coming into it. As someone who had been involved with Cowles as both a student and staff member I can say these things with certain knowledge and judgement. Please replace Cowles with a more suitable facility.
It's time to fully support the Theatre Program at Whitworth.
I graduated in 2014 and worked on productions as well as events in the auditorium. Several updates were made in the years I was there, but they are only patches on a building that is not functional. The building is used for not only theatre, but for speakers and artists and it draws large crowds of people to these events. When they come in the theatre they are seeing an outdated space that does not accommodate well a diverse audience. A new building would not only serve potential and current students it would draw a larger crowd for special events.
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.