ROSEBURG, Oregon – For the past five decades, one of major cornerstones of the Umpqua Community College (UCC) campus has been the hilltop 1,010 seat theater named after UCC’s first president, Jacoby Auditorium. The site has played host to countless concerts, dance performances, theatre productions, and even a visit from Dr. Jill Biden, who is now the U.S. First Lady. Jacoby Auditorium (often shortened to simply Jacoby) has arguably been one of the most-visited locations on the UCC campus.

One of the key features of Jacoby is its stage, which is the largest indoor stage in Douglas County. Framing the stage are the unsung heroes of many performances, its curtains. The often neglected linens play a major role in the overall look of most productions that go beyond opening and closing a performance. These curtains need to be massive, easy to move, and have the ability to shut out all stage light and dampen the sound of actors taking their places on stage.

If one word could define 2020, it would be change and change was brought to Jacoby over the summer in the form of a complete refresh of its curtains. All 11 of Jacoby’s curtains were replaced for the first time since 1995, and it was done with financial support from the UCC Foundation and its Mildred J. Whipple Endowment Fund. The long-established endowment was put in place to fund various projects around campus in support of the arts. On this occasion, that funding was to the tune of $70,000.

A noteworthy feature of these new curtains includes what they are made of. For many years, most stage curtains of this size are required to be coated in a fire-resistant coating, but in most cases that coating wears off with time. These new curtains, however, feature a new synthetic material that will keep this wear off from happening.

With this fresh look, Jacoby Auditorium is ready and waiting to be enjoyed by the community when it is able to host events once more. Though the 1,010 seats remain empty as of today, the day will eventually come when the murmur of a crowd will quiet down as the lights come up. The orchestra will play the overture, and these new curtains will open to welcome the audience to a new world playing out before their eyes.

About Umpqua Community College

Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities.

Contact

UCC Foundation
Phone: 541-440-7809