Oceanside Theatre Company launches major renovation for Sunshine Brooks Theatre
Oceanside Theatre Company begins a $2.2M renovation of the theatre to enhance accessibility and patron experience, with more to come
OCEANSIDE — A cup of coffee and a talk between friends over the bathrooms was the genesis for a $2.2 million fundraising campaign for the historic Sunshine Brooks Theatre.
Over the next 10 years, plans began falling into place as the Oceanside Theatre Company unveiled a phased renovation project for the storied theatre on Coast Highway. During a “wall smashing” event on Tuesday, theatre officials, donors and elected officials gathered to celebrate the pseudo-groundbreaking event.
The first phase tackles the restrooms, and Studio 219 next door will begin in the coming weeks and be completed by March, according to OTC Board of Directors Vice President Leeann Garms.
Garms and architect Ann Worth met at a local coffee shop to discuss one pressing issue: the theatre having just two bathrooms for 200 patrons, which caused issues and saw patrons go to other businesses during intermission for relief.
They hatched a plan, but it soon grew into more. The studio theatre, which is a multi-purpose room and has no connection to the main lobby, requires staff to shuttle kids using the room between the two areas, even though they are next door. Garms said it’s a safety and liability issue, so an adult must guide those students and youth.
“We had a 12-week window, and we wanted the least amount of disruption,” Garms added. “We will have movies through the end of the year and then our world premiere of ‘Dead Moose’ in January. We’re not stopping because the community demands it.”
The first phase focuses on critical infrastructure improvements, including tripling restroom capacity, enhancing ADA accessibility, and the new passageways between the lobby and Studio 219, the theater’s black box performance space.
