Glenview’s Oil Lamp Theater adds SPARK CENTER for camps, adult and kid classes

Oil Lamp Theater aims to inspire a love for theater among people of all ages at its new SPARK CENTER for the Performing Arts in Glenview. Executive Director Jay Pastucha shared that this is just one of the plans they have for the venue.

Situated at 1009 Waukegan Rd., Glenview, the 2,750-square-foot SPARK CENTER is located across the street from Oil Lamp’s main performing space at 1723 Glenview Road. The facility, which Oil Lamp is renting, includes two spacious studios for classes and camps, as well as office space for the theater company’s staff and rehearsal space.

Pastucha highlighted that the theater company draws audiences from various communities, with data showing that last year’s attendees came from 225 towns, with 40% from Glenview and 10% from Chicago.

Emphasizing the importance of arts education, Pastucha stated, “It comes down to where do we see our impact as an organization. We saw a big lack in the area of arts education.” He mentioned that the SPARK CENTER is crucial for achieving their vision of providing arts education that fosters diverse skills like leadership, collaboration, and empathy, ultimately nurturing a passion for the performing arts.

The SPARK CENTER currently offers adult classes such as “Story Performance!” and “Scene Study, Playwright Spotlight: Tracy Letts,” as well as a range of summer camps for children of different ages. Scholarships are being considered for families in need of financial assistance.

With the addition of office space, Oil Lamp has hired three new full-time employees this year. The availability of a parking lot is also beneficial due to parking challenges in the area. Oil Lamp is funding the new space as part of a broader campaign they are initiating.

Pastucha humorously expressed that his aim is not to train future actors for Oil Lamp Theater but to “make better humans.” He emphasized that igniting imagination and nurturing passion and empathy in individuals are what truly matter.

For more details about the SPARK CENTER, visit oillamptheater.org.