Theatre Renovations & Arts Education Programs

Take a Leading Role!

The Fair Oaks Theatre Festival has performed for over 25 years in the Fair Oaks Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre. Over the years, the dedicated volunteers of this non-profit have raised funds and offered their own resources to make improvements necessary to offer a quality experience for audiences from throughout the Sacramento Region.  The most recent accomplishment is the installation of a new light bridge.  Many thanks to the support of the Fair Oaks Parks & Recreation District, local businesses and individuals who made this possible.

Now the goal is to raise an additional $1.5 Million for an upgraded stage floor, and a covered stagehouse. These improvements will allow for year-round performances and much-needed amenities for the actors and stage crew while ensuring that the Festival's Arts Education and Mentoring Programs thrive.  Take a look at the design currently under development (click here) . 

Special thanks to our partners at SMUD who have committed $12,000 to develop an energy efficient  lighting system on the new light bridge.  SMUD will monitor the “SeaChanger” to aid in their research and development of high intensity light sources that reduce consumption and heat load.

  Theatre Renovation
  Fundraising Team

Fundraising Committee
Robert Walters
Tony Sestito
Elisabeth Kersten
Sue Northart
Barbara Sestito
Cleatta Simpson

Advisory Committee
Jonathan Brown
Joyce Bungay
The Hon. Supervisor Illa Collin (ret.)
The Hon. Senator Dave Cox
Spike Helmick
The Hon. Congressman Dan Lungren
The Hon. Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan
Dr. Walter R. Martin
Dr. Larry Masuoka
The Hon. Sheriff John McGinness
The Hon. Roger Niello
John Ofarrell
The Hon. Supervisor Susan Peters
Giovanna Stark
Jim Streng
David Viar

A Chance to Perform

Open auditions offered by the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival provide opportunities for aspiring actors of all ages to perform in front of live audiences. Students from the American River College regularly play leading roles in the productions, as they learn from more experienced actors and directors.

This theatre experience encouraged several of the Festival's young actors to major in theatre arts at New York University, Boston College and Los Angeles - then on to Broadway.

"Since joining the theatre community I have made countless friends, have had numerous experiences I never imagined I would have, and found my voice.

I've always loved singing, but now I sing out loud and proud."      Rashad Jahi Strother

Students from around the Sacramento Region have an opportunity to develop their technology skills while providing community services to the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival.

During his first year studying computer graphic engineering and design at CSU San Marcos, Warren Mahan created this concept for the Theatre design. After interviewing leaders in the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival, he prepared his vision of a new stage and light bridge for the Fair Oaks Veteran's Memorial Amphitheatre.  Warren used 3-D modeling programs called "Blender" and "Google SketchUp" to create his concept.