Five years ago, we were newcomers to Ashland. We were lucky enough to retire to Ashland and found ourselves in a community made up of interesting, intelligent, talented and engaged people. Ashland is a welcoming place where there are many opportunities to participate. But, most of all, it is the people here who inspired us.

In winter 2012, we approached OSF’s Development team with the idea of a gift that gives not only to OSF but also to our new community. We saw that the Bricks courtyard is the heart and entryway to OSF theatres and where the community gathers to see the Green Show, a venue that attracts performing artists nationally and internationally and is free to all. Yes, we know now that the idea of renovating the Bricks goes way back before our time in Ashland. We didn’t know that history when we first arrived. Yes, we were new and we were not aware of the particular priorities and needs of OSF at that time. But our motivation to give came from a place of gratitude and appreciation for this community and our desire to contribute to its well-being.

We approached OSF with the idea to improve the space and provide the seed money to help promote this renovation. Since then, we have had the honor and the pleasure to sponsor a number of other projects at OSF with the theme of not just improving access but also improving the audience’s theatre-going experience. The first phase of the Bricks renovation, which was completed last winter, was to build a more efficient and functional loading and docking area for the delivery of sets, props, costumes and lighting equipment. OSF was looking out for its employees and concerned about their safety, their backs and their overall health.

Committed to making OSF more accessible

OSF also learned that hard-of-hearing patrons in the Allen Elizabethan Theatre were sometimes unable to hear all of the actors onstage. We responded to that need with a new, state-of-the-art sound system for the space. OSF saw that many patrons had difficulty navigating the stairs in the Bowmer Theatre and said there was a need for more wheelchair seating. Last winter, a new elevator was installed in the Bowmer and we funded a wheelchair-accessible seating area, which will be added this fall once the season ends. The Company also recognized the need for more signage directing our patrons to the various theatres and the Collier Box Office. OSF will be adding much more informational signage as a part of the Bricks-renovation project.

We are proud of our association with the Festival in these and other projects. We will continue to be committed to projects that will make our community and the OSF campus more accessible to all. We share in OSF’s commitment to making the visit from our theatre-going public a more enjoyable and safe experience.

Today, we are delighted to see the transformation of the Bricks courtyard into a dynamic space for gathering, performances and celebrations. We want to give a very special thank-you and recognition to Ted DeLong for supervising the progress of this project, for keeping everyone and everything on schedule and for the many other things he does for OSF. We want to thank OSF Board members Dave Glen, Kathy Esslinger, and Yogen and Peggy Dalal for providing their leadership and energy to the Bricks Campaign Committee. We also want to thank the members of this committee, the Development team and the Marketing team for their hard work and dedication in making this project a success. Honorary Campaign Chair Shirley Patton's stellar work also deserves our deepest thanks. 

Early on in this process there was a Design Committee, and OSF held numerous town meetings. The input from this committee and from the community was invaluable in making this space our own. More recently, we learned that community member Elizabeth Fairchild launched a grassroots effort to raise funds for the Bricks. Students from Project UP, a group that provides arts education for special needs students, have been on the Bricks recruiting signatures and raising funds. We want to thank Elizabeth for spearheading this effort and the students of Project UP. Your efforts reflect the true understanding and meaning of Access for All.

In addition to the seed money, when the Access for All Campaign started we gave a matching fund as an incentive to the community. Whether you give $1 or more, we will match dollar for dollar up to $500,000. We are close but have not yet reached our goal. We encourage you to give if you believe in the principle of Access for All. You will see that your contribution matters, whatever the size, and that there are many ways to show you care. We are honored to be a part of this community and we want to thank everyone for their participation as a generous donor, as a loyal and enthusiastic audience, and as a supportive community. We’re proud to be a part of this process and grateful for OSF’s efforts to make Access for All a reality and a guiding principle.

To learn more, visit Access for All and make your donation today.