The importance of Olympia FamilyTheater

Rachel Benton

A few days ago, I was meandering around our beloved downtown, chatting with various shopkeepers. Some of our conversations eventually turned to my plans for the day: attending Olympia Family Theater’s (OFT) teen production of “Ride the Cyclone.” The response I received each time was remarkably similar: “Oh, I love OFT! My kid did shows with them!” 

Whether you or your child has performed in an OFT show or sat in the audience for one, you can probably agree with me that OFT serves a much bigger role in this community than simply putting on shows. 

OFT cultivates community, creativity, belonging, hope, and joy through the safe spaces it creates both on and offstage. You can see these values in everything from the bright colors that cover its walls to the interactions with every staff member, who I swear might actually have been sent from Santa’s workshop at the North Pole. Their constant jolliness, passion for their work, and positivity are inspirational. 

What continues to drive me in this work is encountering passionate individuals, whose sparkly outlooks on life are contagious — with absolutely no cure in sight (and thank goodness for that!). “Ride the Cyclone” was a vibrant example.  

‘Ride the Cyclone’ 

With only two weeks to prepare for a main stage performance, Olympia Family Theater’s teen summer camp participants brought their energy and enthusiasm to “Ride the Cyclone” last weekend, and their hard work paid off. 

Sitting in the audience, I could not believe they had only two weeks to prepare! The overall quality of the production was on par with some of the high school productions I have seen, many of which have two to three months to prepare.  

Here is another incredible feat: none of the students or members of their audience were on their phones. Putting on a show like this requires even more time away from a screen. How wonderful is that? 

Through this production, students had the opportunity to interact with the real world, socialize and communicate with their peers and mentors, and learn new skills, including lighting and sound — both of which they executed beautifully during the show. 

There was a tangible sense of belonging, evident in the love these students poured into their performances and the genuine camaraderie they shared. These students proved that, with determination, hard work, and a willingness to give it their all, you can accomplish just about anything you set your mind to. Is there anything better we can give our young people than experiences like these? 

OFT and community 

Let me be candid, dear readers: I worry about artistic organizations like OFT and how they can keep up with the rising cost of doing business. 

OFT, like all of us, is cognizant of the current state of the economy, which is why they continue to offer sliding scale pricing for student camps and classes. They don’t want anyone to miss out on an opportunity to participate in the arts because of something as trivial as money. OFT’s generosity is a gift to this community, but it isn’t unlimited: we must continue to invest in OFT for it to thrive.  

As individuals, we may not have the capacity to carry the world on our shoulders. That is the beauty of community: no single person has to provide everything. We each contribute what we can, and somehow, together, we create something far greater than what any one of us could have done alone. 

What can you contribute? Do you have time to volunteer? Do you have the ability to pay toward the higher end of a sliding scale so that you can help provide an opportunity for a fellow community member, neighbor or, as I like to call them, a future friend? Maybe you have something else entirely. Whatever it is, I encourage you to consider sharing it.  

OFT is in the business of telling stories and teaching profound lessons, both on and off the stage. They have many more stories and lessons to share, each enhancing our daily lives.

I invite you to join me in the audience for these next shows: 

• 'Tales Told in Ten' on Sept. 26: Olympia’s beloved 24-hour play festival, including local actors, directors, and writers, including yours truly.  

• 'The Luna Sisters of Element' from Oct. 16 - Nov. 1: Based on the beloved books by local author O. Salazar de Breaux, this play follows four extraordinary sisters on Día de los Muertos in Olympia. 

• 'Goodnight Moon the Musical': Just announced at “Ride the Cyclone.” Dates to be announced.  

Purchase your tickets for these shows and learn more about how you can be a part of OFT’s community on their website. 

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.