INTERVIEW WITH OTC PRESIDENT NAOMI OLSON

Words by Kristen Fogle

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) renovated the Sunshine Brooks space late last year and produced the successful, slightly dark production of “Jacob Marley’s A Christmas Carol” under the direction of OTC’s Artisitc Director Christopher Williams in December.

Since then, theater goers have been…curious. What will they see in the inaugural season? Will OTC be able to turn the once lackluster space around?

The answer to the last appears to be…yes. The space looks amazingly different than it did one short year ago, and the group seems to have an ambitious (but possible) agenda.

OTC Board President Naomi Olson weighs in on these thoughts and more, recollecting on the process of acquiring the Brooks, discussing what the challenges for the board have been, and (the question of everyone’s lips) what we will see there this season.

Kristen Fogle: You and I were in a show together at The Brooks, but for those who don't know your theater background, give us the rundown.

Naomi Olson: I’ve been active in theater for most of my life. I majored in Theatre/Speech at U of Minnesota in Mankato where I was either acting or helping with some aspect of many of the productions. After college I moved to Las Vegas for four years and was very active in the largest community theatre that existed at that time in Vegas. That experience introduced me to some very dedicated actors, directors, choreographers, and technical staff that joined together to create The Las Vegas Little Theatre. We rented a tiny building that had been a dentist’s office, gutted it, and created an intimate theatre venue. Eventually LVLT became housed at UNLV, but by that time I moved back to Minnesota, opened a flower shop, and started directing community theater and the high school’s seasonal productions. Four years later found me in California where I have been ever since. Most recently I have acted in The Sunshine Brooks, The Star, The AVO, and Mira Costa, but my most demanding role by far is that of President of the Board for Oceanside Theatre Company.

KF: Why did you decide to take over The Brooks? How long ago did this process start? What did it involve?

NO: While acting at the Sunshine Brooks a couple years ago I met some really enthusiastic, dedicated, talented theatre types…again, actors, directors, set designers, technical professionals…all who had a special connection with the Brooks and dreamed of what it could become for the community. The potential was tremendous and we all knew it. Very shortly thereafter I was approached by a member of the arts community and asked to speak to the City of Oceanside about the potential of issuing an RFP (request for proposal) to the public for the Sunshine Brooks Theatre when the current tenant’s term expired. They were curious if I thought any other groups would be interested in the opportunity, and I told them that I thought there would be many groups interested. I requested that if they proceeded that I be among those to receive an RFP. I took the news back to the group and very shortly thereafter Oceanside Theatre Company was created. Not all of us knew each other but we all knew of each other, and it was almost magical about what varied backgrounds and skill sets we had. All very complementary, very little cross over…it was amazing. We all met one Sunday afternoon and realized that we had all the basics; we could do this. We became incorporated and received our 501 (c)(3), within months, and as soon as the RFP was issued we wrote our proposal, presented it to the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Oceanside Commission for the Arts, the Board of Commissioners, (all of whom gave us their unanimous approval), and finally, to the City Council who also voted unanimously to approve us for the Brooks. We are so thrilled to have this opportunity. So from inception, to receiving the keys, to the building, it was about one year.

KF: What have been some challenges in owning a theater that you did not originally anticipate?

NO: Challenges, yes, absolutely. The founding members were almost all original board members and when we actually got The Brooks and became rental agents and tenants everything changed…as of course, it would have to. Up to that point we had all made all the decisions together and now it was necessary to separate into two entities, those that would be responsible for the productions and the actual management of the physical theatre and those who would remain on the board and become the managers and business side of Oceanside Theatre Company as a whole. Since we were also all very active, working, volunteering members, the lines sometimes got blurred between the two entities. It would be like, “Are you doing this as a volunteer or as the Board President”? “No, I have my volunteer hat on now.” Or, “Are you telling me this isn’t as good idea as the Treasurer or as someone who knows how to order internet service?” That kind ofthing. But we are figuring it out and since we have only had the keys for about five months, I think it’s pretty incredible what we’ve been able to accomplish. There’s just so much to do and, at least at the beginning, so few of us to do it. Plus we almost all have full time jobs too.

KF: After seeing "Jacob Marleys Christmas Carol," which was very impressive, many of us wondered how OTC would become distinctive from other similar theaters in the area. What have been your conversations with board members over this issue?

NO: We want to have broad appeal. We want to produce four to five shows per year of various types: Classical/Contemporary, Comedy/Tragedy, American/Foreign. We also plan have one musical a year and one children’s theater production. We are a theater for the community, we are here to serve the community, and we plan to raise the bar of what community theater can be. When we are not producing our main stage productions we plan to produce a play reading series, a new works festival, and then also open our doors to a music series and poetry reading, etc. Our Youth Academy is a very important part of our mission, but it does not define us.

KF: How hands on are you with choosing the season? What are some upcoming shows you are excited to see in your space? 

NO:  Our Artistic Director, Christopher Williams selects the season with approval from the Board. We have complete confidence in him and a commitment to make his vision come true. “Biloxi Blues” is playing now, and it’s a wonderful show… I know many people will look forward to the ever popular “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and then in the fall I’m very excited about “You Can’t Take it With You.”  I also think we’re going to do “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” again at the holidays.

KF: You have a smaller, blackbox space as well. I know there have been talks about doing a staged reading group in there, I know dance rehearsals and acting classes take place there...what am I missing or what of those can you highlight? 

    NO: We’ve just gotten the old Black Box, now called “Studio 219” ready for business. Currently our academy classes are held there and we are also hosting “Glassless Minds,” a poetry reading group. But we hope to have recitals, smaller venue concerts, music and dance lessons, and many more performances for smaller venues.

    

    KF: Every theater has goals. For your new season, what are these?

NO: We just want to get the word out there about OTC and attract the audiences we need to spread our reputation. We really believe that once people come and experience one of our performances they will come back again and again. So, building a larger base, soliciting support, fund raising, not only for our productions but also to renovate our theatre, and make it a show place for downtown Oceanside. We have a huge agenda….but I think a realistic one because, hey, just look what we’ve accomplished in a few months!

Biloxi Blues plays through April 29. For more information on Oceanside Theatre Company, please visit www.oceansidetheatre.org.