'Give Us a Boost' Campaign to Replace Theater Seats at Prospect Park Gets Under Way

The Redlands Theatre Festival and its founder and artistic director, Cliff Cabanilla, are working to replace the seats that are broken, cracked and faded in the outdoor Avice Meeker Sewell Theatre in Prospect Park, home of the popular Redlands Theatre Festival. The festival is kicking off its "Give Us a Boost" theater seat campaign to replace all the seats in the theater. "It's really amazing that they have lasted this long," said Cabanilla, who also is the founding theater instructor and former department chairman of theater at Crafton Hills College. The theater seat campaign is a great opportunity for area theatergoers, companies, clubs, trusts, civic groups and others to give the city of Redlands-owned park and theater a boost in replacing the theater seats, Cabanilla said. With a tax deductible gift of $75, a donor can purchase a seat that comes with an engraved brass plate. "People have said, 'You should charge more.' But, no, we're only charging for what it really costs (for the chair and plaque)," he said. "This is not a money making deal.' Rather than display the brass plaques on individual seats, where they will tarnish and be exposed to the elements, the plaques will be placed on display at the theater at every performance at the venue. The rest of the year the brass plaques will be protected inside and out of the weather, making sure the gifts and recognition will last decades. "We did brass plaques on the (first) seats initially but discovered they tarnish almost immediately...So we decided to do this instead," Cabanilla said. "Plaques work for indoor theaters but out in the elements they don't work. (This way) they're protected for the next 30 years." The first Theatre Seat Campaign was launched and donations came in from area groups and individuals. The effort stalled, however, needing $7,000 to complete all the new seating installation. A grant from Target pushed the effort over the top to complete the project. Since 1972, those original folding chairs and first permanent theater seats have witnessed much. During the past four decades the summer Redlands Theatre Festival has: • Produced more than 200 plays and musicals • Staged more than 1,600 performances • Featured more than 300 company members on and off stage • And entertained more than 500,000 audience members Cabanilla said the new "Give Us a Boost" campaign has already started online, with donations from theater patrons already coming in to www.RTFSeats.com. Mailers advertising the campaign are being sent out to season ticket holders as well. Now is a great time for people to give a unique Christmas gift to someone, or yourself, Cabanilla said, and also get a tax deduction at the same time for the 2013 tax year. The seat campaign continues through the new year. TO PURCHASE SEATS Go to www.RTFSeats.com Make checks payable to: Redlands Theatre Festival and send to RTF Seats, P.O. Box 8055, Redlands, CA. 92375