Gesa Power House Theatre is proud to announce a $20,000 grant award from The Wildhorse Foundation of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. This award will help bring the theater’s audio equipment up to current industry standards. 

Additionally these funds will allow Gesa Power House Theatre to purchase a new sound board console, a key component to daily operations that will, in turn, better accommodate the needs of touring artists. It will also better serve audience members who may be hard of hearing as this new sound board provides the capability to pursue equipment options that can seamlessly synchronize with hearing aid devices. 

“But at the core of this project, and what this grant funding makes possible,” said Executive Director Amy Watkins, “is increasing our community’s access to the performing arts. By updating our sound board and audio systems, Gesa Power House Theatre will be able to accommodate a wide variety of performers on our stage, including events and fundraisers held in our venue by local community partners and nonprofits.”

We at the Gesa Power House Theatre are honored to receive this grant and look forward to better serving the Blue Mountain region.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is a modern tribal government representing the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people, who have lived in this region for thousands of years. 

Each year, the Wildhorse Foundation of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation makes grants to eligible organizations in that homeland area – Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties in Oregon, and Benton, Columbia and Walla Walla Counties in Washington – along with Oregon tribes and Native American organizations.

The Foundation receives 3% of net gaming revenues from Wildhorse Resort & Casino to award grants. These funds are distributed quarterly in equal amounts. Through 2019, the Wildhorse Foundation has awarded more than $13 million dollars in grants to community organizations in our seven county area.

The Wildhorse Foundation donates over $1 million every year to local programs and services that benefit our giving area. The foundation funds projects in the areas of the Arts, Cultural Activities, Education, Environmental Protection, Gambling Addiction Prevention, Education and Treatment, Historic Preservation, Public Health, Public Safety and Salmon Restoration. Over 1500 organizations have received project funding from the Wildhorse Foundation.

About Gesa Power House Theatre

The historic Gesa Power House Theatre is a 300-seat performing arts venue, located in downtown Walla Walla. The 120-year-old building was once the Walla Walla Gas Plant, built to produce coal gas used to light the streets, businesses, and homes of Walla Walla. In 2011 the Gesa Power House Theatre building was transformed into a state-of-the-art playhouse for live performance. The interior design of the theatre was inspired by Shakespeare’s own intimate Blackfriars Theatre in London, England.

The Gesa Power House Theatre is on the Washington State Building Preservation Commission list of State historic buildings and on the National Register of Historic Places. The venue also hosts a variety of other cultural events, musical concerts, and private events (including weddings).

Gesa Power House Theatre is owned and operated by Power House Theatre Walla Walla, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

For additional marketing and media information, including interviews and hi-res images, contact:

Mary Aparicio Castrejón
Marketing Manager
Phone: 509.529-6500 ext:5
marketing@phtww.org

Gesa Power House Theatre
111 North Sixth Ave.
Walla Walla, Washington 99362