Olympic College Dramatic Arts Department has recently created a beneficial association with the Bremerton Community Theater.
“We’ve been fortunate in establishing a new relationship with the Bremerton Community Theater,” said drama professor Janet English.
This relationship started with OC students volunteering with the theater for fundraising events in November 2009 and again in February 2010.
“Non-profit organizations survive tough economic times by supporting each other,” said English.
In that spirit, props, costumes and set pieces are loaned between OC and Bremerton Community Theatre costume lofts. Costume lofts are storage spaces for the costumes, props and set pieces for plays. Lofts are also the working spaces for the production artists, seamstresses and other theater professionals.
The OC costume loft has several costumes and pieces on loan to the Bremerton Community Theater for the current production of “Enchanted April” and the upcoming production of “Cabaret.”
The play, “Enchanted April,” is set in rainy 1920s London and a sunny Italian villa. The same background set is used throughout the play with various stage techniques used to illustrate the differences between the two settings.
The relationship between OC and the Bremerton Community Theater benefits OC students by giving them the ability to gain working experience as well as educational benefits.
“The costume loft at the Bremerton Community Theater is larger and more extensive than the one at OC,” said English.
Recently, students from Drama 211, Costume Fundamentals, toured the Bremerton Community Theater. The tour, authorized by Diana George of the local theater, allowed OC students a first-hand look at the props, costumes, and stage of a working production.
“Standing on the sets and on the stage under the lights was exciting,” said student Aaron Williams. “Actually being on the stage made all the things we learned in class come together. I could see how the mural was constructed and how it looked from the audience’s perspective.”
Both the OC and Bremerton Community Theater costume lofts house a large number of vintage costumes and props. The Bremerton Community Theater is the only theater in Kitsap County with a vintage sewing machine. The Singer machine is more than 50 years old and fully operational. OC students were allowed to use the machine during their tour.
“Using the vintage sewing machine was a lot of fun,” said student Kenny Bittala. “I thought it might be a little girly, but it was more like a power tool than a sewing machine; loud and fast.”
“I’m interested in fashion design,” said student Starcia Crisostomo, “so it was helpful to see and feel the materials and to look at the costumes from the time periods we’ve been studying.”
The students were also allowed to carefully handle the costumes.
“I was surprised to see so many costumes and that we could touch them,” said student Josh Dewey.
“We are establishing important relationships with other organizations for the benefit of OC students,” said English.
In addition to loans to the Bremerton theater, the OC costume loft has lent costumes and props to Ameri-Corps for performances. The Ameri-Corp performances gave OC students the opportunity to apply the makeup and costume techniques learned in class by volunteering to dress the performers.
“OC is following the example of other community theaters by establishing these relationships,” said English. “We’re reaching out to other schools and theaters.”
These efforts have already started to pay off. On March 12, the Costume Fundamentals students will visit the University of Washington with authorization from Sarah Nash Gates, the dean of the UW School of Drama.
“We’re going to the UW theater and costume lofts on Friday,” said student Jennifer Smith. “I’m really excited to see all the lofts on that campus and their stages.”
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