Hotel Olympian 100th Anniversary Grand Gala Extravaganza
A play with music by Bryan Willis
Produced by The Northwest Playwrights Alliance & KGY
What?
Radio Theatre broadcast on KGY, produced by Northwest Playwrights Alliance.
When?
March 28 and May 23 at 3pm on KGY 95.3.
How?
Tune in to KGY 95.3 FM on at the date and time above.
About the Production
The Northwest Playwrights Alliance & KGY present a recreation of the July 1920 opening night festivities for the Hotel Olympian – “The Hotel that Saved Our Capitol.” After a devastating fire destroyed Olympia’s largest hotel, Olympia lacked proper accommodations to house Legislators, lobbyists and visitors. The lack of a first-class hotel was used as a club against Olympia in attempts to move the Capitol to Seattle or, heaven forbid, Tacoma. Plans for a new hotel were delayed by World War I, the Spanish Influenza and a faltering economy. Just when it appeared our Capitol would be lost, over 150 private citizens pooled their resources (over $320,000) to build a “world class hotel.” The Hotel Olympian was instantaneously the political hub and social center of Olympia. It’s been said that more bills were passed in the Hotel than in the adjacent Capitol. This one-hour recreation of the Opening Night Gala & Dance features a small orchestra, ten songs, a love story, and speeches from the major players who spoke at the original ceremony.
Sponsors
Sponsors include the Olympia Arts Commission, Thurston County Historic Commission, Oly Arts magazine, ROXY FM, the Northwest Playwrights Alliance, The Academy of International Education, KGY FM, PARC Foundation of Thurston County, Jocelyn Dohm PARC Music Fund, PBIA Downtown Parking District, TwinStar, & Venables Pest Management and Twin Star Credit.
The production was recorded (socially distanced, of course) at Olympia Family Theater.
Production Team
| Director | Deane Shellman |
| Musical Director | Daven Tillinghast |
| Stage Manager | Olivia Burlingame |
| Sound Design and Editing | John Maninin |
| Dramaturg | Geoff Proehl |
Cast
| Rowin Breaux | Lundy McDowell, our radio host |
| Brian Tyrrell | Thad Pierce, co-manager of the hotel |
| Russ Holm | Mayor Jesse T. Mills |
| Kim Holm | Mrs. F.R. Klumb |
| John Serembe | Governor Louis F. Hart |
| Andrew Gordon | George Fotvoye |
| Jana Tyrrell | Mandy Fotvoye |
| Carolyn Fry | Josephine Koskeiner |
| Xander Layden | Martin Peña-Clark |
| Jill Barnes | Jillian Barnette |
| Richard Wheeler | Lance Corp. Richard Wheeler |
| Academy of International Educations | Kobe Choir Club |
Photos from the Recording Session
Rowin Breaux Xander Layden Carolyn Fry Andy Gordon Kim Holm Richard Wheeler Brian Tyrrell Kobe Choir Club Jana Tyrrell Jill Barnes
Fine Print
“Hotel Olympian 100th Anniversary Grand Gala Extravaganza” is produced by Northwest Playwrights Alliance and KGY. Harlequin Productions is not a producer of this work.
Hotel Olympia photos by Vibert Jeffers, with graphic design by John Serembe