Oceanside Theatre Company to Break Ground on Phase I of Sunshine Brooks Theater

Revitalization Project

Ceremonial ‘Wall-Smashing” Set For December 16, 2025 as OTC Begins Major Capital Improvements to Historic Downtown Venue

(Oceanside) December 16, 2025 – Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC at the Brooks), stewards of the City-owned Sunshine Brooks Theater, will officially launch Phase I of the Brooks Theater Revitalization Project on Tuesday, December 16 at 1:00 PM with a public groundbreaking ceremony and symbolic “wall smashing.”

The event will include brief remarks from project and community leaders including Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez and County Supervisor Jim Desmond, followed by a ceremonial demolition inside the area slated for renovation. This wall-smashing marks the first physical step in opening up the Brooks Theater’s lobby, adding six new restrooms and creating a new internal connection to Studio 219 (219 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA), improving accessibility, circulation, and overall patron experience. OTC leadership will be joined by City and County officials to commemorate the milestone.

“We’ve been thrilled to see Oceanside Theatre Company become a pillar in the community and region for professional theatre,” shared Brooks Revitalization Co-Chair, Chuck Lowery. “This project represents an important new chapter for OTC to extend our impact further with upgraded facilities and flexible capacity.”

Phase I of the renovation—made possible through a strong public–private partnership with the City of Oceanside—focuses on critical infrastructure improvements, including tripling restroom capacity, enhancing ADA accessibility, and creating new passageways between the lobby and Studio 219, the theater’s black box performance space.

The City’s support includes a $500,000 lead gift and a 20-year lease agreement, underscoring a shared commitment to ensuring the Brooks remains a vibrant cultural asset for decades to come. The County of San Diego also provided early funding to support architectural and engineering work.

“We’ve spent years enhancing the artistic programming at the Brooks, and now we’re excited to begin improvements that elevate the patron experience from the moment audiences arrive,” said OTC Artistic Director Kevin “Blax” Burroughs. “With expanded facilities—including triple the number of restrooms—our audiences will feel more comfortable from arrival to curtain call.”

A Pivotal Moment for Oceanside’s Creative Future
Built in 1936 as the Margo Theater, the historic Sunshine Brooks Theater—soon celebrating its 90th anniversary—was donated to the City of Oceanside in 1993 by Hattie ‘Sunshine’ Brooks. Over the decades, the Brooks has mirrored the evolving cultural life of Oceanside and today serves as an anchor of the Oceanside California Cultural District and a vital hub for the arts.

Since its founding in 2011, Oceanside Theatre Company has carried forward the vision of community champions including Hattie “Sunshine” Brooks, former City Councilmember Colleen O’Harra, and OTC founding board members Christopher and Tracy Williams. Their leadership laid the foundation for what has become one of North County’s most active and impactful arts organizations. More information about the history of the Brooks can be found at Oceansidetheatre.org/about/history/.

Today, OTC operates as a seven-days-a-week performing arts center, presenting theatre, music, film, dance, comedy, visual arts, literary events, and year-round arts education programs that serve thousands of residents and visitors annually.

At a time when arts organizations nationwide are facing closures, OTC continues to grow—reaching over 700 students each year through youth and after-school arts education and providing hands-on opportunities for young performers, designers, and storytellers. As audiences and programming at the Brooks have expanded, so too has the need for facility upgrades that support accessibility, safety, and long-term sustainability.

These improvements were shaped through extensive community engagement, with feedback gathered from patrons, artists, neighbors, and partners to ensure the revitalization reflects the needs and values of the people who use and love the Brooks.

“What began several years ago as a conversation about addressing restroom capacity has grown into a comprehensive revitalization plan,” said OTC Vice President Leann Garms. “This project will offer a more welcoming lobby, a flexible connection to Studio 219, improved safety and accessibility throughout the building, and thoughtful preservation of the Brooks’ historic character. With City support and community leadership, OTC is poised to transform the Brooks into a cultural destination worthy of Oceanside’s growing arts ecosystem.”

Project Team 

The revitalization design is led by Object Projects (www.object-projects.com), a women-owned architecture studio founded by Ann Worth and Sarah Hirschman, known for their focus on arts- and community-centered projects. The team has proposed strategic updates to the historic structure that enhance safety, accessibility, and flexibility while honoring the theater’s legacy.

“Nearly 90 years ago, on the heels of the Great Depression, this theater opened as a symbol of renewal for the City of Oceanside,” said Worth. “Today, while the region continues to grow, the Brooks remains a beacon of arts, culture, and community connection. This revitalization is about preserving that civic space for the next generation.”

About Phase 1 (See Press Room for project details, renderings and historical photos)
Phase 1 construction (December 2025–March 2026) includes:

• Tripling restroom capacity
• A more welcoming, flexible lobby that nods to the theater’s Art Deco history
• New accessible passageways between the lobby and Studio 219
• Infrastructure improvements essential to long-term sustainability, including HVAC

Wall-Smashing Ceremony Details
Tuesday, December 16 at 1 PM
Sunshine Brooks Theater
217 N. Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054

Elected officials, OTC leadership, project partners, members of the arts community, and the Brooks Revitalization Campaign Committee will participate in the ceremonial wall smashing between Studio 219 and the Brooks Theater.

About Oceanside Theatre Company

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC), the resident company of the historic Sunshine Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside, is a cornerstone of the Oceanside California Cultural District. OTC presents professional theatre, live music, and visual arts, along with year-round educational programs and youth outreach initiatives. Learn more at oceansidetheatre.org or follow @oceansidetheatrecompany on social media.