{"id":111,"date":"2025-12-18T09:58:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T09:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estradas.nastraining.com\/GCMW115Prj1-estradas\/?p=111"},"modified":"2025-12-18T10:19:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T10:19:46","slug":"oceanside-theatre-company-to-break-ground-on-phase-i-of-sunshine-brooks-theater-revitalization-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estradas.nastraining.com\/GCMW115Prj1-estradas\/?p=111","title":{"rendered":"Oceanside Theatre Company to Break Ground on Phase I of\u00a0Sunshine Brooks Theater Revitalization Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ceremonial \u2018Wall-Smashing\u201d Set For December 16, 2025 as OTC Begins Major Capital Improvements to Historic Downtown Venue<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(Oceanside) December 16, 2025<\/strong> \u2013 Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC at the Brooks), stewards of the City-owned Sunshine Brooks Theater, will officially launch Phase I of the Brooks Theater Revitalization Project<\/strong> on Tuesday, December 16 at 1:00 PM<\/strong> with a public groundbreaking ceremony and symbolic \u201cwall smashing.\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

(Oceanside) December 16, 2025<\/strong> \u2013 Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC at the Brooks), stewards of the City-owned Sunshine Brooks Theater, will officially launch Phase I of the Brooks Theater Revitalization Project<\/strong> on Tuesday, December 16 at 1:00 PM<\/strong> with a public groundbreaking ceremony and symbolic \u201cwall smashing.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The event will include brief remarks from project and community leaders including Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez and County Supervisor Jim Desmond, followed by a ceremonial demolition inside the area slated for renovation. This wall-smashing marks the first physical step in opening up the Brooks Theater\u2019s lobby, adding six new restrooms and creating a new internal connection to Studio 219 (219 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA), improving accessibility, circulation, and overall patron experience. OTC leadership will be joined by City and County officials to commemorate the milestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been thrilled to see Oceanside Theatre Company become a pillar in the community and region for professional theatre,\u201d shared Brooks Revitalization Co-Chair, Chuck Lowery<\/strong>. \u201cThis project represents an important new chapter for OTC to extend our impact further with upgraded facilities and flexible capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phase I of the renovation\u2014made possible through a strong public\u2013private partnership with the City of Oceanside\u2014focuses on critical infrastructure improvements, including tripling restroom capacity, enhancing ADA accessibility, and creating new passageways between the lobby and Studio 219, the theater\u2019s black box performance space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The City\u2019s support includes a $500,000 lead gift and a 20-year lease agreement, underscoring a shared commitment to ensuring the Brooks remains a vibrant cultural asset for decades to come. The County of San Diego also provided early funding to support architectural and engineering work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve spent years enhancing the artistic programming at the Brooks, and now we\u2019re excited to begin improvements that elevate the patron experience from the moment audiences arrive,\u201d said OTC Artistic Director Kevin \u201cBlax\u201d Burroughs<\/strong>. \u201cWith expanded facilities\u2014including triple the number of restrooms\u2014our audiences will feel more comfortable from arrival to curtain call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Pivotal Moment for Oceanside\u2019s Creative Future
<\/strong>Built in 1936 as the Margo Theater, the historic Sunshine Brooks Theater\u2014soon celebrating its 90th anniversary\u2014was donated to the City of Oceanside in 1993 by Hattie \u2018Sunshine\u2019 Brooks. Over the decades, the Brooks has mirrored the evolving cultural life of Oceanside and today serves as an anchor of the Oceanside California Cultural District and a vital hub for the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since its founding in 2011, Oceanside Theatre Company has carried forward the vision of community champions including Hattie \u201cSunshine\u201d Brooks, former City Councilmember Colleen O\u2019Harra, and OTC founding board members Christopher and Tracy Williams. Their leadership laid the foundation for what has become one of North County\u2019s most active and impactful arts organizations. More information about the history of the Brooks can be found at Oceansidetheatre.org\/about\/history\/<\/a>.

Today, OTC operates as a seven-days-a-week performing arts center, presenting theatre, music, film, dance, comedy, visual arts, literary events, and year-round arts education programs that serve thousands of residents and visitors annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a time when arts organizations nationwide are facing closures, OTC continues to grow\u2014reaching over 700 students each year through youth and after-school arts education and providing hands-on opportunities for young performers, designers, and storytellers. As audiences and programming at the Brooks have expanded, so too has the need for facility upgrades that support accessibility, safety, and long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These improvements were shaped through extensive community engagement, with feedback gathered from patrons, artists, neighbors, and partners to ensure the revitalization reflects the needs and values of the people who use and love the Brooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat began several years ago as a conversation about addressing restroom capacity has grown into a comprehensive revitalization plan,\u201d said OTC Vice President Leann Garms<\/strong>. \u201cThis project will offer a more welcoming lobby, a flexible connection to Studio 219, improved safety and accessibility throughout the building, and thoughtful preservation of the Brooks\u2019 historic character. With City support and community leadership, OTC is poised to transform the Brooks into a cultural destination worthy of Oceanside\u2019s growing arts ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Team <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revitalization design is led by Object Projects<\/strong> (www.object-projects.com<\/a>), a women-owned architecture studio founded by Ann Worth<\/strong> and Sarah Hirschman<\/strong>, known for their focus on arts- and community-centered projects. The team has proposed strategic updates to the historic structure that enhance safety, accessibility, and flexibility while honoring the theater\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNearly 90 years ago, on the heels of the Great Depression, this theater opened as a symbol of renewal for the City of Oceanside,\u201d said Worth. \u201cToday, while the region continues to grow, the Brooks remains a beacon of arts, culture, and community connection. This revitalization is about preserving that civic space for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Phase 1 (See Press Room for project details, renderings and historical photos<\/em>)
<\/strong>Phase 1 construction (December 2025\u2013March 2026) includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n