The Civic Auditorium is undergoing a major upgrade in the lighting and sound systems for the theater, thanks to gamblers and Google. The state lottery funds donated $50,000 and there was a matching $50,000 Google grant. Equipment was bing installed last week by Hollywood Lights, a Portland-based company that was founded in 1948. The company’s Alex Marine explained some of the new items:
“We’ve updated everything in here to the current decade. We’ve got a brand new digital mixer here. We’ve upgraded and installed over a dozen wireless microphones, so that will really help out with the theatrical performances. We also updated the speaker system, or actually, put a speaker system in. It’s top of the line Sound Labs, really great fantastic speakers, and I’m really excited to get going here.”
The new equipment got its first gig over the weekend, hosting the Masters Family Circus. Ringmaster Alejandro Masters said those who attended would find:
You’re going to be looking at classic and modern circus acts — clowning, aerial, juggling, contortion … kind of a mix.”
The next event coming to the Civic is the latest in the Mid-Columbia Community Concerts Association programs, featuring the Wardens a group of former Canadian National Park Wardens, offering songs and stories of mountain life. That’s this Thursday the 21st at the Civic.