After nearly a decade, construction of the West End Theatre was completed in March of 2012, fulfilling a longtime vision of Earl Thompson and Edie O’Connor. The West End Theatre is a traditional black box theatre that provides an intimate space for community performances. With its state of the art design, Edie and Earl aspire to advance Quincy community theatre to a new level. The theatre has a flexible performance space with moveable seating that can fit up to 99 audience members and a cutting edge lighting system that provides professional features.
Earl and Edie, deeply rooted residents of Quincy, are passionate about both theatre and recognize the value of a strong community. Their concept of a high tech community theatre experience has been in the making for over a decade. It was set in motion with the founding of dramaworks, a non-profit organization established in 2000. Dramaworks promotes the enjoyment of theatre arts, facilitates children’s and community theatre programs, and utilizes its venue as an educational path to reduce societal barriers and improve the lives of rural families and children.
Edie enthusiastically believes that, “theatre is like food for children, they need it to flourish.” Dramaworks employs theatre to both entertain and educate youth. Through the various dramaworks programs, youth develop skills to help them excel in life. Dramaworks also presents an opportunity for community members to learn and grow through theatre. Individuals who have never participated in theatre before can become an actor, playwright, costume designer, or stagehand.
Earl and Edie, deeply rooted residents of Quincy, are passionate about both theatre and recognize the value of a strong community. Their concept of a high tech community theatre experience has been in the making for over a decade. It was set in motion with the founding of dramaworks, a non-profit organization established in 2000. Dramaworks promotes the enjoyment of theatre arts, facilitates children’s and community theatre programs, and utilizes its venue as an educational path to reduce societal barriers and improve the lives of rural families and children.
Edie enthusiastically believes that, “theatre is like food for children, they need it to flourish.” Dramaworks employs theatre to both entertain and educate youth. Through the various dramaworks programs, youth develop skills to help them excel in life. Dramaworks also presents an opportunity for community members to learn and grow through theatre. Individuals who have never participated in theatre before can become an actor, playwright, costume designer, or stagehand.
About the building
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The West End Theatre was built in 1875 by William Edwards with bricks made at Gurdon Meylert's brick making yard just north of town. The building originally served as the Plumas House Livery Stable and was one of several stables that provided carriages for hire and care for horses that stayed at the Plumas House Hotel. Jacob Stephan purchased the business in 1882 and changed the name to Stephan's Livery Stable. In 1940 the site was converted to W.J. Hamblin's Plumas Garage and a Shell Gas Station was added to the west side. Other businesses over the years resided in the building including a Ford Auto Sales site, Western Auto, and Walltech.
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The Plumas House Livery Stable at the turn of the 20th century. Picture courtesy of Plumas County Museum, Quincy, CA. Click to enlarge.
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The structure of the building was preserved in its most recent restoration.
Below are pictures of the construction process during the past ten years.
Below are pictures of the construction process during the past ten years.
