BY PEPPER FISHER
Sequim – Ghostlight Productions, the local, non-profit theater company, has postponed their performances of Cinderella in the face of the Sequim School District’s proposed new rental rates of the High School auditorium.
A statement on Ghostlight’s website says that under the district’s proposed rates of $500 per 4-hour session for rehearsals and $600 for performances, would increase Ghostlight’s rental costs to over $12,000 per production, or 556%. That’s up from current rates, which they say typically range between $1,800 and $2,700.
Sequim Schools Superintendent Regan Nickels told us that it’s been 6 years since there was a revision of their rental fees, and it was time for an update. She concedes that the fees for the auditorium went up the most, as compared to ballfields and the gymnasium and, after hearing from some of their regular renters, they put a 60-day pause on finalizing the new fees to make room for some discussion with local groups.
“We have heard concerns that the increase was too high and that the timeliness of it was a challenge for the groups’ annual budgeting. So, what we have done is come up with a collaborative pathway that we’ve invited folks to participate in, so that we can talk to the groups about their individual needs, concerns and predictions for what’s coming next for their programs, so that we can facilitate a revision.”
Nickels said that requests from outside groups to use the auditorium has grown by leaps and bounds. They based the increased fees on the rising costs of utilities and labor needed when the school hosts an event, but also on comparison districts and what they charge for the same kinds of events.
“It was pointed out to us, and rightly so, that our facility doesn’t have some of the modern conveniences that some other of the comparison properties did. So, we recognize we need to make some changes there. We also have a new plan. We’re trying to be very proactive and thinking about what our projects will be one year, five years, even 10 years out. So some of this adjustment is also for us to be able to look ahead and have a fair and consistently applied fee schedule. That’s really what our goal is.”
Meanwhile, Cinderella, originally scheduled to present in late September and early October, has been tentatively re-scheduled for early 2026, pending a resolution with the district of the new fees and availability of the venue.
(Photo: Sequim High School auditorium)