Tripp Performance Art Center

 There is nothing quite like walking into a theater empty, the lights out, no crowds, no sounds. So we leave on the "ghost light", a single light in the center of the stage to ward away the spooky imagination we think up. 

This pandemic has left our performing arts center empty for now but LBCC has taken this opportunity to remodel Takena Hall. A time that will not interrupt the show, and the show will go on... soon. 

As of right now the theater is closed to outside (not LBCC rentals) due to COVID-19 and closed until July 2022 due to re-model of the adjoining Takena Hall, according to Events Manager Michael Winder. Winder is in charge of all things Russell Tripp Performing Arts Center, booking, scheduling, front of house, and marketing. Winder said what makes LBCC's theater stand out is "it is accessible, available, ample parking, and the space" it provides.

The theater stage deck was replaced 3 years ago and the house lights have been upgraded to brighter and more energy efficient LEDs. A fancy feature one may not notice is, the light switch to turn on the house lights are the house doors. Until recently Tripp Performing Arts Center was the largest space in Linn county with 450 seats. West Albany High School now has the largest and state of the art theater space in Linn county, thanks to grant funds according to Winder.

Once the doors are open again Winder expects his schedule to fill up with years past bookings such as, Legacy Ballet recitals, town hall events, and LBCC choir concerts.

"Always a great show at the Russell Tripp, had the opportunity to help run sound for The end of Spring Show for a local dance Academy. Great experience." Former soundboard operator Christofer Pawley

Fiona Sprague recalls going to the theater space as a field trip in second grade to see a performance. Bussing in hundreds of elementary age kids in the area is a tradition LBCC has had for nearly 27 years. 

"I walk down the stairs near the theater and can't hear rehearsals now, it's sad" Said Sprague. 

Russell Tripp was born in Albany, Oregon on February 9, 1927. He went on to get his bachelors at Willamette University and Masters at Stanford. His achievements include; American real estate company officer. Recipient Alumni citation, Willamette University, 1976. Mayor City of Albany, 1964—1970; Member of Albany Board Realtors (president 1957, Realtor of Year 1968), Oregon Community College Association 1977, Albany Tennis Club 1973. He was the mayor of Albany from 1964-1970. 

Russell Tripp - Local legend, mogul, donor and name sake.

Right: Re-dedication ceremony PC- blogger 

Bottom: Climbing the stairs to the Dali Llama's chambers PC his own Facebook

Hello Sabrina! As it concerns the PAC, the hall has a great sound and lighting system that is usable for many events. The hall also has significant fly space so that backdrops and such can come down easily. For music, the hall is equipped with a great acoustic shell and risers that allow musical performers to hear one another better on stage. It's a wonderful hall in the name of one of our most important community members Russell and Duffy Tripp. No music in the hall until maybe next fall due to the renovations happening in Takena Hall. I hope this helps!

Enter

Write to Music at Linn-Benton

Journalism Reporting; Up next, some things about Sabrina.

    Hey there, I'm Sabrina. I'm taking journalism writing this term to become a better member of the news team. Just last term I joined The Commuter team as the Photo Editor, which for me is super exciting because I haven't had the opportunity to work with a group in a long time. But the best part is, it's a fantastic group of people, so I want to do my best. 

I am a Journalism major, along with Public Health. I took Photojournalism last term for two reasons; to expand my talent as a photographer, and to impress my cousin who is a photojournalist and lives half way around the world in Uganda working on reporting about Nodding Sickness. But those two reason lead to a "ah-ha!" moment for me. I have a passion for reporting, interviewing, getting the scoop and getting the shot. This term I'm so thrilled to find that sweet formula for writing a riveting article.

Who I am outside of the classroom is a mosaic of hobbies. I am a mom to an amazing and clever little girl, her 5th birthday is this week. So it comes in handy that I love planning events, baking, cooking, and gift giving. I am also a daughter, we live on my parents forest property in an apartment me and my dad built while I was pregnant. I take care of my parents, they are disabled and aging gracefully. I share responsibilities on their property and I have my own year round garden. I even have a garden stand during the summer months! I'm always fixing, building something like lego tables, making something like lamps, and redecorating to make rooms more useful. My latest project is a mouse proof pantry from reclaimed furniture I found in estate sales. And in the spring I will be emptying out the barn and pool room to become an indoor playground and useable pool and tropical greenhouse again. I think my friends would say I'm into makeup, I just think of it as another art form. But I would have to say the thing I am most passionate about, that gives me most joy, is being a helper, knowing I truly helped a friend is the best feeling in the world. 

Some goals I have for myself this term; to get the best information during an interview. To learn how to record an interview. To learn how to video an interview. 

I would like to shake something up without crossing the line. 

Left: Me in the woods taking pictures.

Right: Pumpkin canon, Sarika Rao (my bff) fires tiny pumpkins at targets while my child disapproves of the loud sound.

LBCC Theater what are we doing? 

With the death of the theater department, what are we doing with the space? 

What shows will be available in the Performance Center? 

How do troupes rent it? 

What benefit does the Center have for LBCC students?

I want to highlight the missing program while encouraging the space to be filled. Show there is still creativity thriving in our college. If the space is resting during covid times I want to write about precautions and safety along with permanent change in live shows.

Production Coordinator: Michael Winder, winderm@linnbenton.edu, 541-917-4561

Dance Club Providing an opportunity to be involved with dance in a creative and fun way:  learning, performance, choreography. Legacy Ballet:  104 Main St SE, Albany, OR 97321 541-791-9078 legacyballet@q.com

Richenda Hawkins hawkinr@linnbenton.edu 541-917-4641

What is the renting process? What ways do we advertise for the Performance Center? What is the biggest benefit our theater offers that other stages do not? What are the experiences people have about this theater? Is it haunted? Is there a current line up of events during Covid times? What is the current renovations of Takena Hall doing with the Performance Center? Is theater gone for good?

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away" -Pablo Picasso

Left: My summer garden stand turns to fall. All things are a suggested donation.

Too Much About Sabrina

PC: LaToya Rose Williams

 

I've got Hobbies for Days...

Thanks for stopping by to take a look, this is me. 

My name is Sabrina and you're welcome to remember that any way you'd like. I don't have a black cat named Salem but I do have a dog named Dotty, a turtle named Daisy, and a dwarf rabbit named Mr. BunBun. They are all rescue pets so I do my best to make sure they are happy and healthy.

Most importantly I'm a mom to an amazing little girl who I named Isabella Noel, but she likes to be called Bella. My goal as a mom is to be a great example for her. To think critically, be independent, and never stop learning. She is young and already so is polite, clever, and full of joy.

I decided I needed marketing in my higher education because I'm a business owner and working for myself gives me a kind of 'chaotic peace of mind', I am a photographer my business is Bellatrix Photographic. I named it that with some help from my friends, it was inspired from one of my tattoos which is the star Bellatrix in the constellation Orion. A tattoo I got when I accepted truth in compliments, that it is ok to allow others to admire you. My Photography specializes in portraits and events. Most recently I have become the photo editor for The Commuter at LBCC giving me new opportunities to capture current events and see my images in print.

I've made ads for other companies in the past; Earthbound Beauty Day Spa in Newport where I was the assistant to the owner and receptionist, I really enjoyed my time here, I made close friends and cared about the business. I also shortly worked at a day spa in Corvallis when I moved back, with a toxic work environment, the owner here took advantage of everyone who worked for her and enjoyed causing drama and anxiety, this experience taught me what never to be as a boss or leader, and that it is not always failure to walk away. 

I also do ads for my parent's business, Beaver Plumbing, they own and run it so I do their ads on facebook and sometimes the ads really take off organically! So this term I am most interested in learning all the ways marketing surrounds us, and what I can use in my own business and my parents'.

I am majoring in Journalism and Public Health. I've always had a passion for healthcare because I took care of all my grandparents as they passed away and grew up with my mom being disabled from surviving polio as a child. I've been an in-home caregiver for disabled adults and the elderly as well as worked hospice end of life care. I've also spent years working with children from 6 months to 12 years old. I've found these groups, the young and old have a need for advocates. Working as a massage therapist for a decade showed me everyone in between is in need of reliable health coverage for maintaining healthy bodies and preventing health issues in their future.

 I have a passion for journalism because of my life experience, I literally promised a woman on her death bed I would write a book of all my stories, also that I would never use a tanning bed because of skin cancer, Shirley got me with some good promises at the end there, a truly wonderful woman. Mixing these worlds together is what I aim to do. Bring the healthcare world into an easily understandable and truthful view of the public. Expose the places we fail to cover basic human rights to usher the United States to Universal Healthcare and success in moving forward for the health of our nation. I've never seen our current "for profit health coverage" think of my clients as valuable human life, but I've seen this system constantly value human life in dollars and debt.

Outside of my higher education and career goals I love living in the woods and working in my garden. I have a year round herb garden in a half greenhouse and a vegetable garden that produces in the summer and fall. I live in a small community north of corvallis in the hills at the top of Soap Creek Valley and have become active in preserving our historic schoolhouse and have a Garden Stand at the end of my driveway near the road where I provide extras from my garden and things I make like candles, elderberry syrup, and herb infused olive oil. I also enjoy building lamps from old parts and upsycling materials. I enjoy making things in general, DIYing feels like a way of life. Even when I throw parties and events I love making pieces, baking cupcakes, cooking dishes, decorating for the event or holiday, it is such a joy to put it all together so beautifully. Which could be why I love working with clay so much, taking a ceramics class through LBCC was such a joy, I got to make coffee cups for my whole family and all my friends, a dog water dishes for all the fur-babies we have.

With my best friend since 7th grade who is also my neighbor, pre-covid days and in the future we like to cosplay at ComicCons. Last time we went I got to dress up my daughter who was 3 years old as characters from Star Trek and Supernatural, and for SteampunkCon I made her a jet pack and victorian costume. It comes in handy that I can sew and create glamor and effect makeup looks. I've designed makeup looks for whole shows in local community theater such as Alice in Wonderland Through the Looking Glass and Aladdin (Panto). We have been involved in theater since we were kids.

So, yeah... I have a lot of interests and hobbies, which feels funny that I've had a time in my life years back where I felt lost and like I couldn't do anything at all. Turns out I'm really good at many things, but I truly excel at helping others.

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.”  -Ralph Waldo Emmerson