Hillsboro Artists' Regional Theatre facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | HART |
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| Formation | 1994 |
| Type | Non-profit community theatre |
| Purpose | Theatrical productions |
| Location |
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President of the Board
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Aurea Taylor |
| Marlys Carter, Paul Johnson, Kelcey Weaver, William Crawford, Cindy Wilkins, Doug Sellers | |
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Key people
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Past President Doug Sellers |
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Main organ
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Board of Directors |
| Website | www.hart-theatre.org |
Hillsboro Artists' Regional Theatre, also known as HART, is a fun community theater group in Hillsboro, Oregon. It started in 1994. This group is a non-profit, which means they use any money they make to put on more shows. HART puts on about six plays every year. Their theater has 99 seats and is in downtown Hillsboro, right next to the Hillsboro Civic Center.
Contents
The Story of HART
How HART Began
The Hillsboro Actors Repertory Theater started in 1994. It was founded by John and Kim Sandstrom. They already had a dinner-theater company called SandStorm Productions. The Sandstroms used their own money, grants, and donated materials to open the theater. It was in an old J. C. Penney store in downtown Hillsboro. Kim Sandstrom also began a training studio for actors at the same time.
HART's very first play was a comedy called Light Up the Sky. It was written by Moss Hart. This first show opened in September 1994.
Growing and Changing
By 1996, the theater had put on 11 plays. Some early shows included Romeo and Juliet and Barefoot in the Park. In 1996, the Sandstroms decided to sell the company. They sold it to a non-profit group called Friends of HART. This allowed them to focus on their family. Kim Sandstrom stayed on as the artistic director for another year.
Later, in 2004, Michael Hibbard became the artistic director. In June 2004, HART had to move out of its first home. The rent for the space had doubled. Around this time, the group also changed its name to Hillsboro Artists' Regional Theatre. For a while, they held plays in different places. One of these places was the Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center.
Finding a New Home
In February 2005, HART started talking with the city of Hillsboro. They wanted to lease a building next to the new Hillsboro Civic Center. This building used to be a Pizza Schmizza restaurant. HART needed to raise a lot of money to fix up the new location. They needed over $350,000 at first. The city later gave them more time to raise $600,000 for the remodel. In December 2005, the theater received a $60,000 grant from the state of Oregon.
Many groups helped HART raise money. These included the Spirit Mountain Foundation and the Collins Foundation. The Meyer Memorial Trust gave the largest donation, which was $100,000. By December 2006, HART had enough money. They signed a ten-year lease for the city-owned building. The new theater opened in April 2007. Their first play in the new space was Don't Dress for Dinner. In September 2009, the theater added a new sign, called a marquee, to the building.
Recent Shows
HART continues to put on many different plays. Some recent productions have included Quilters in 2010 and Woman In Black in 2011. They also performed Rumors and Gracie for President in 2012. HART likes to offer both new plays and familiar favorites. They are dedicated to bringing a variety of entertainment to the local community.
What Happens at HART
Putting on a Play
Hillsboro Artists' Regional Theatre usually puts on six to ten shows each year. Since it is a community theater, the actors are not paid. Many actors also help with other jobs. They might make costumes, clean, or work behind the scenes. Shows are held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Sunday shows are usually in the afternoon, called matinées.
The Theater Building
The theater is in a building owned by the city of Hillsboro. It is about 3,825 square feet in size. The building can seat 99 people. It has a concession stand where you can buy snacks. There is also a lobby, a ticket office, and dressing rooms for the actors. The stage itself is about 800 square feet.
Other Local Theaters
- Bag & Baggage Productions
