The Thacher School, a private boarding high school, had a long tradition of dramatic performance,
but had no adequate place to perform. In 2001, architect Barton Phelps, with Landry & Bogan Theatre
Consultants, and McKay, Conant Brook, Consultants in Acoustics and Audio-Visual, began design of the
Performing Arts Building and Commons project.The Arts building contains the 450-seat theatre, performer makeup and dressing rooms, costume, and prop space as well as music and dance rehearsal rooms. The theatre and is equipped with a orchestra pit wit movable cover, a fully-rigged 30’ x 40’ stage, modern performance lighting systems and a full orchestra enclosure with rigged ceiling panels.
The large doors to the outside support another Thacher tradition of informal assemblies, and the large window in the house (with blackout shade) brings the outside in when appropriate.
Landry & Bogan, Inc. provided theatre design assistance to the architect as well as specific designs for lighting catwalks, box booms, seating and sightlines, and the lighting, rigging, pit cover and orchestra enclosure.
Owner's Representative: Sandy Jensen, Drama, The Thacher School, 5025 Thacher Road, Ojai, California 93023 (805) 646-4377 ext. 246
Design Architect: Barton Phelps, FAIA, Barton Phelps & Associates, Architects and Planners, 5514 Wilshire Boulevard, 10th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 934-8615
Executive Architect: Harley Ellis Devereaux, 5150 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323).965.7444
Construction data: 24,500 SF, construction cost $11.4 million, opened April, 2006
