Oceanside Theatre Company to Honor Kathy Brombacher with Inaugural Lifetime Theatre Achievement Award

Award to be presented at OTC’s “Sunshine Soiree by the Sea” Sept. 16

Oceanside, CA (June 13, 2023)  Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) is thrilled to announce that Kathy Brombacher, a renowned theater and cultural arts leader, has been selected as the recipient of its inaugural Lifetime Theatre Achievement Award. This honorable award has been created by OTC to recognize exceptional excellence in the field of theatre throughout Southern California. Brombacher, Emeritus Artistic Director/Founder of Moonlight Stage Productions and a respected Freelance Director/Theatre Educator, will be presented with this distinguished honor at OTC’s “Sunshine Soiree by the Sea”  Saturday, September 16, where her lifelong impact on the theatre community will be celebrated.

“There is no other person more deserving of this honor than the incredible Kathy Brombacher. In her long standing involvement in the region’s theaters, she has touched the lives of innumerable actors, directors, designers, musicians and others in the theatre arts, as well as entertained more audiences than anyone else in the county, bar none!” said OTC Managing Director, Alex Goodman.

The Lifetime Theatre Achievement Award serves as a tribute to Brombacher’s enduring commitment to excellence in theatre production, performance, and education. Her unparalleled contributions to the theatre world have left an indelible mark on the Southern California community.

“We look forward to creating an opportunity for those individuals Kathy has impacted to join us at the Soiree as we formally celebrate Kathy’s continual and tireless commitment to excellence in theatre production, performance, and education,” said Gloria J. Banks, OTC Board Member and Soiree Chair.

Brombacher’s first involvement with OTC dates back a decade to when she directed The Boys Next Door. She followed that up the following year, directing the critically-acclaimed Lost In Yonkers.  More recently, she helmed the OTC/SRT co-productions of Outside Mullingar in 2018 and Lucky Stiff in early 2023. 

“I consider Kathy to be a mentor and owe her a great debt of gratitude for everything I have learned from her and the opportunities she has provided me,” said OTC’s Artistic Director Ted Leib.

Brombacher holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Redlands and an MFA from the University of Denver. Her teaching/directing experience includes a year at the University of Redlands and 14 years at Vista High School and Rancho Buena Vista High School. Additionally, she served on the board of the San Diego Performing Arts League for four years. 

Of course, Brombacher is most known for her 31 years at Moonlight, 22 of which she worked full-time for the City of Vista as Program Manager in Cultural Arts and Producing Artistic Director of Moonlight Stage Productions at the Moonlight Amphitheatre and the Avo Playhouse, where she left an indelible legacy. Her extensive directorial credits include beloved productions such as Ragtime, the Musical, Into the Woods, Kiss Me, Kate!, and Noises Off! at Moonlight Stage Productions. Her artistic collaborations and unwavering commitment sustained the organization, taking it from a volunteer community theatre to a celebrated professional regional musical theatre organization. 

At Moonlight, Brombacher’s contributions extended far beyond the stage. Actively involved in theatre education and community outreach programs, she established the thriving Moonlight Youth Theatre. While under her guidance, Moonlight Cultural Foundation played a pivotal role in supporting programs through fundraising and capital campaigns. Additionally, she oversaw numerous milestones at Moonlight Stage Productions during her tenure. The completion of the Amphitheatre stage house in 2009 and the renovation of the Avo Playhouse into a beautiful rental theater space for the community in 1995 are testaments to her vision and leadership. 

Since retiring from Artistic Director duties for Moonlight Stage Productions, Brombacher has directed two musicals for Palomar College, served as co-Artistic Director for Carlsbad Playreaders, directed five  productions for Scripps Ranch Theatre, directed four productions for Vista’s Broadway Theatre, directed two musical theatre productions for the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido,  and directed a musical for Intrepid Theatre, as well as the aforementioned plays at Oceanside Theatre Company. Her favorite productions include Ragtime, the Musical,  Fiddler on the Roof,  Into the Woods, Little Women, the Musical, Noises Off!, The Foreigner, The Spitfire Grill, Outside Mullingar and Lucky Stiff.

Brombacher’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. Her dedication to the arts has earned her multiple awards for theatrical excellence, solidifying her status as a true influencer in the industry. She has been honored with a Craig Noel Award as a “Theatrical Trailblazer” by the San Diego Critics’ Circle in 2005 and a KPBS Shiley Patte Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2006. She currently holds the title of Artistic Director Emeritus and remains an active member of the San Diego County arts community.

OTC’s Sunshine Soiree by the Sea will serve as a platform to honor Brombacher and celebrate her exceptional career in theatre. The event will bring together individuals whose lives she has touched and provide a testament to her enduring legacy.

“I am thrilled to have been part of Kathy’s journey and witness her immeasurable impact on the theatrical arts. This award is a testament to her extraordinary dedication and artistic vision,” said Goodman.

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC), the resident production company at the historic Sunshine Brooks Theatre, will host an afternoon of food, dancing, entertainment, a paddle raise, silent auction, and a celebration of Brombacher at the luxury Seabird Resort, just steps from the ocean on September 16, 2023 from 3-6 pm. Information and tickets can be found at OceansideTheatre.org/Soiree.

About the Lifetime Theatre Achievement Award

OTC has created this award to recognize outstanding excellence in the field of theatre throughout Southern California. Kathy Brombacher, Emeritus Artistic Director/Founder, Moonlight Stage Productions; Freelance Director/Theatre Educator will be presented with the inaugural award at the 2023 Soiree to honor a lifetime of impact on the theatre community.

“There is no other person more deserving of this honor than the incredible Kathy Brombacher. In her long standing involvement in the region’s theaters, she has touched the lives of innumerable actors, directors, designers, musicians and others in the theatre arts, as well as entertained more audiences than anyone else in the county, bar none!” said OTC Managing Director, Alex Goodman.

“We look forward to creating an opportunity for those individuals she has impacted to join our theatre as we formally celebrate Kathy’s continuing, tireless commitment to excellence in theatre production, performance and education,” said OTC Board Member and Soiree Chair, Gloria J. Banks.

About Oceanside Theatre Company

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC), the resident professional theater company operating the Historic Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside, is a focal point of the Oceanside California Cultural District (OCCD). OTC’s mission is to produce professional theatrical, visual art, and musical productions for the entertainment and enrichment of the community, present educational opportunities in the arts for children and adults, and provide a safe, state-of-the-art public venue for expansion of artistic endeavors in North San Diego County and greater Southern California. OTC produces a four-show mainstage theater season in the 198-seat venue, as well as a Music Series, play readings and various other events in the adjacent black box theater, Studio 219. An important part of OTC’s mission is inspiring and sharing the arts with local youth through the Youth Theater Arts Program, which includes Summer Theater Camps and Youth Theater Arts Outreach in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside during the school year. To learn more visit www.oceansidetheatre.org.