> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # It’s time for some ‘Action!’ at Barnum - URL: https://www.smdp.com/its-time-for-some-action-at-barnum/ - Published: 2007-03-07T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T00:12:14.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Education, Downtown, #archive-import *Investment should begin paying dividends* SAMOHI After spending nearly $8 million restoring Barnum Hall to its original glory, donors are now looking for their investment to start paying dividends, and it’s up to Carey Upton to make that happen. The performing arts veteran and former manager of the historic Los Angeles and Palace theaters in downtown LA has been placed in charge of Barnum Hall and the Greek Amphitheater at Santa Monica High School. In addition to helping students learn how to run lights and sound boards, Upton, 43, is responsible for overseeing the daily maintenance of the performance hall and promoting it as a cultural resource for the community, which played a significant role in its restoration by approving bonds that financed most of the project. “What we envisioned with the restoration of Barnum Hall was that it would once again be a community venue, not just for the high school,” said Jean Sedillos, chairperson of Restore Barnum Hall, which helped raise $1 million for the facelift and is looking to raise another $1 million for a maintenance endowment. “Carey Upton seems like the perfect person to do just that.” Upton, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., attended Samford University and did graduate work at Baylor University before signing on as a stage manager for the Shakespeare Company in Massachusetts. From there,, he worked at many regional theaters, and later became resident director for the Shakespeare Project in Washington, D.C., where he also served as a faculty member at University of Maryland. “I’m a lifelong theater person,” Upton said. “I’ve probably done everything there is to do in theater … I have experience managing an historic theater and maintaining the historic experience, but I also bring that broad range of management experience working in theater, music and dance for both for profit and nonprofit centers. “I think this is a good fit.” Upton’s first day at Barnum was Feb. 1\. He has since met with school officials and is looking forward to more chats with residents, theater companies and others interested in the arts. “I think the hardest part will be getting people to rediscover Barnum Hall,” Upton said. “We have to get people to see it as one of the truly great performance halls and not just consider it a high school auditorium.” SOMETIMES, A TOUGH FIND When it was built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration, the classic Streamline Moderne structure served as the city’s cultural center, hosting concerts, plays, musicals, ballets, operas and solo acts. Barnum Hall’s design went way beyond those of a traditional high school theater. Santa Monica artist Stanton MacDonald- Wright directed leading WPA artisans to create such works as the Viking mural on the fire curtain and the mosaic in the lobby. Additionally, on the front facade of the hall is a concrete bas-relief of a comedy-tragedy mask and musical instruments portrayed in the art deco style that was preeminent for many public buildings in the 1930s. Over the years, the theater was neglected in light of the Civic Center Auditorium and other performing arts venues. The hall was eventually closed in 1997 due to unsafe rigging and lighting systems. It was reopened a couple of years later with new rigging, lighting and stage floor. New carpet was also provided and seats refurbished, along with an acoustical shell and an enhanced orchestral pit. A state-of-the-art sound system was also installed, Upton said. Funding came from state and local bond measures and the school district, which put in more than $6 million. City Hall contributed $1.5 million and nearly $1 million in donations was raised by Restore Barnum Hall and the Samohi Alumni Association, Sedillos said. A Wurlitzer pipe organ still needs to be installed along with acoustic side-wall panels. “We still need to raise more money to help pay for maintenance and do this right,” Sedillos said. “There’s just no point in renovating it if we allow it to fall into disrepair. We always envisioned a theater manager. In my way of thinking, (Upton) is five years late, but that’s district time.” Barnum is currently booked throughout the school year, however, Upton is looking to add some performances during the summer. There is already a fundraiser with singer-songwriter Jackson Browne on the books. “I have been talking with a couple of symphony orchestras and dance companies,”Upton said.“There are some things in the works.” In the meantime, Upton has to find a way to inform people that Barnum exists. Situated in the heart of Samohi, it can be difficult for people to access the hall for performances. “Location is still bit of a challenge for us. That mostly has to do with people finding us,” Upton said.“We are talking with the city right now on changing our address to better reflect where we are and we will have a Web site coming online next month. We are also looking at new signage and are working out additional parking arrangements with local parking lots.” Upton said with the new Civic Center parking structure coming online within weeks, he believes accessing Barnum will be easier than ever. “Santa Monica is a great community that is dedicated to the arts,” Upton said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/030707-03_01.jpg) (Photo: Photo courtesy) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 7, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/030707.pdf?ref=smdp.com)