Photo credit Gazette staff.

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The decision to choose purple as the theme color for the theater was not arbitrary. The initial inspiration came from the 325 purple seats in the theater, which serve as the most prominent feature in the main section of the building. Since purple was already such a dominant color in the seating area, it only made sense to extend that theme throughout the rest of the space.

Purple has a personal significance to me as well. For those who know me, it’s no secret that I am passionate about cars. The first car that truly left an impression on me as a child, was a 1970 Dodge Challenger owned by a neighbor in Glendale, which was painted in Dodge’s iconic “Plum Crazy” purple. This color, still associated with the brand today, has become legendary. Classic Plymouths and Dodges from that era in this shade are highly sought after by collectors. Interestingly, the Road Runner cartoon character, used on one of the most valuable classic muscle cars, the Plymouth Roadrunner, also features purple in its plumage and wings.

I also have a deep love for Halloween, where orange and purple are the defining colors. My purple enthusiasm also comes from my love of the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland, where purple wallpaper can not only be seen on the ride, but throughout souvenirs and paraphernalia related to the ride. And let’s not forget Taco Bell—another one of my favorites—whose current logo prominently features purple.

On a more serious note, purple carries significant symbolism:
In the U.S., the Purple Heart is one of the highest honors for bravery in military service. Originally created in 1782 by George Washington, the award recognizes soldiers for their courageous actions. Purple, in this context, represents honor and valor. This meaning is especially personal to me, as I have two sons in the military—one served in the Navy, and the other is currently serving as a Sergeant in the Marines. I was unable to serve due to asthma, but I hold their service close to my heart.

Purple is also the official color of the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/about/our-brand). Alzheimer’s affects millions of Americans, and I have worked on videos addressing this issue in my professional life. The experience has deepened my understanding of the profound impact Alzheimer’s has, not only on the patients but also on their caregivers.
Spiritually, purple holds powerful meanings across cultures. In Western Christianity, it is often associated with penitence, reflection, and transformation. In Hinduism and Buddhism, purple can symbolize enlightenment and higher consciousness. Source: “The Color Purple: A Symbol of Spirituality,” The Power of Color (2010)

Color psychology suggests that purple—a blend of blue (stability) and red (passion)—promotes wisdom and dignity, qualities often attributed to this rich hue. Source: “Color Psychology: How Colors Influence the Mind,” The Journal of Experimental Psychology (2018).

Historically, purple has been a symbol of women’s suffrage in the U.S., signifying the fight for women’s right to vote and equality. Source: https://sos.oregon.gov/.../suffrage/Pages/context/colors

The history of purple is quite fascinating. From the Carnegie Museum of Natural History:

“The color purple has been associated with royalty since ancient times, in large part because the murex shellfish-based Tyrian purple dye (aka Royal purple or Imperial purple), produced by the Phoenician city of Tyre during the Bronze Age, was very expensive to make and thus only the wealthiest classes, including the nobility, could afford it. Its striking color and resistance to fading made clothing dyed with Tyrian purple highly desirable and the ancient Romans adopted purple as a symbol of imperial authority and status. The togas of the Senators were trimmed in purple and a completely purple toga was worn by the person occupying the powerful office of Censor. It was the Censor’s job to determine which Senators were still worthy of office and who should and should not be on the roster of Rome’s leading citizens.

The color purple was not only reserved as a status symbol for clothing but was also used in Roman monuments and buildings. “Imperial Porphyry” is an igneous rock that contains hematite and the manganese-bearing mineral piemontite that makes it similar in color to the Tyrian purple dye.”

The famous novel “The Color Purple”, by Alice Walker, presents the color as a symbol of beauty and self-realization. In the story, Shug Avery encourages Celie, the protagonist, to recognize the beauty in the world, specifically in the color purple. For Celie, learning to appreciate the color becomes a metaphor for her awakening to joy, self-love, and empowerment.
In short, purple is more than just a color; it is a symbol of bravery, beauty, dignity, transformation, and empowerment. I chose it for the theatre because it reflects the energy, history, and spirit of both the venue and the city of Fillmore. Purple is a color that speaks to the extraordinary, and I can think of no better way to honor the amazing experience we aim to provide as we continue to renovate this space.