SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL THEATER FOUNDATION

“Leap, and a net will appear.”

This mantra has empowered the Santa Barbara High School (SBHS) theatre community for many decades. It denotes the trust, camaraderie, and magic of the theatre and particularly the SBHS students, faculty, and supporters who seize the opportunity to offer the audience a hearty laugh, a good cry, or just a 2-hour escape from daily life.

The SBHS Theater Foundation was founded in 2005 with the mission to establish long-term, consistent support for the survival and growth of theatre arts at SBHS, and to create and maintain a state-of-the art theater complex at SBHS. For each production put on by the department, the foundation plays a significant role in its success. From the purchase of the production rights (typically a $5,000 per production expense) to the replacement of microphones (approximately $1,000 each for our approximate 30 cast members) and myriad items in between, the foundation supports each production of the department. Productions only make it to the stage because of the support of the foundation and the generosity of the community, as ticket sales and advertising only cover a fraction of the cost of putting on a show.

The second focus of the SBHS Theater Foundation providing a state-of-the-art complex is also a vital component of each production’s success, but also a community burden and opportunity for the foundation as the greater Santa Barbara and SBHS community utilize the theatre for numerous occasions. Although some bond improvement plans have been funded within the last 15 years, these dollars have gone to important ADA compliance around SBHS. Given the lack of Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) resources on the horizon, the foundation is faced with raising its own money to make any kind of improvements to the theater complex.

It is through the efforts of the foundation that the most significant update has been made with the replacement of the lower level of seats in 2008. In the theatre’s 93-year history, there have been minimal significant upgrades, the last being in the early 1970s. The department’s and foundation’s efforts have afforded few enhancements over the years including a new light board in 2009 and an upgrade to the lighting system. These improvements have been a great benefit to the professional value of productions and the enjoyment of the audience. However, there is much more to do to improve the complex and many of the upgrades need additional resources to properly finish the project.

At the heart of the SBHS Theater Foundation’s mission is the task of seeking community support to provide a vibrant, diverse program of study in musical theatre for its students in a state-of-the-art complex for the enjoyment of all. Your support will provide much needed funding for the immediate production in rehearsal as well as for the long-term viability of the theater complex and deferred maintenance. Won’t you be part of our “net”?

SBHS Theater Foundation Tax ID# 42-1603115

Santa Barbara High School Theatre

Santa Barbara High School Theatre, located in the heart of Downtown Santa Barbara, on the beautiful Santa Barbara High School campus is home to the nationally recognized Santa Barbara High School Theatre Program. With theatre being performed continuously in the same space since 1924, Santa Barbara High school Theatre has a rich history. Since 1996 the program has further flourished with the coming of now artistic director and department head Otto Layman, who is now the senior theatre director in the Santa Barbara Unified School District with the retirement of long time San Marcos Theatre director, David Holmes. Otto shares the district with new San Marcos Theatre director Riley Berris (a former student of Otto's) and Dos Pueblos Theatre Company director Clark Sayre.

With close relationships with multiple licensing companies such as Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Musical Theatrical International, Samuel French, and others, SBHS Theatre is able to bring the latest and greatest shows to the Santa Barbara area. Recent shows include Hair, Pippin, Big Fish, Monty Python's SPAMALOT, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Chicago, The Drowsy Chaperone, Into the Woods, Alice in Wonderland, Anything Goes, Little Shop of Horrors, and many more. With a strong vocal group SBHS Theatre in recent years has produced two musicals a year in addition to the wildly successful student produced and directed Music of the Night which has been in continuous production since 2000. To provide a professional experience we hold actors to a high standard and to that standard we hire professional directors and artists. Leap ... and a net will appear.