[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 4, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING PACIFIC CONSERVATORY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 2014

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the Pacific 
Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) located at Allan Hancock 
College in Santa Maria, California.
   During its 50 years, PCPA has become a nexus of artistic talent on 
the Central Coast. Over the course of that time it has nurtured 
thousands of students and provided an oasis for patrons of the arts.
   Founded in 1964 by Donovan Marley, the newly formed company quickly 
gained local support, and in 1965 Santa Maria voters approved $1 
million in funding to build the Performing Arts Center building on the 
Allan Hancock college campus. It was eventually named the Marian 
Theatre, after Allan Hancock's wife, Marian Hancock. In the summer of 
1974, an outdoor theater was constructed in just 58 days to host 
outdoor summer performances in Solvang, CA. Decades later, these venues 
continue to put on incredible performances for Central Coast residents.
   The heritage of PCPA, however, is not just in landmark buildings, 
but in the cultural legacy that it has provided for generations. In 
fact, many of the nation's greatest actors had their beginnings at PCPA 
and its alumni include Academy Award winners Robin Williams, Kathy 
Bates, and Mercedes Ruehl.
   Many of us on the Central Coast remember our first experience at a 
PCPA performance, and I know that it will continue to delight us with 
its excellence for years to come. I applaud the PCPA for its years of 
dedication to bringing the performing arts to the Central Coast with an 
unmatched level of quality, passion, and talent. Congratulations on 
fifty years of excellence.

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