by Alec Clayton
In recognition of 40 years of dedicated service to the performing arts in Thurston County and the South Sound, Washington Center Production Manager Roger McIntosh has been selected as the 2026 Excellence in the Arts Commitment to the Arts Awardee. The Center’s Star Dressing Room has been officially named in his honor in recognition of the organization’s “deep appreciation for four decades of service, care, commitment, and the philosophy that guided his work,” according to a Center Marketing and Sales Director Tineke Raak.
McIntosh was honored for the award at the Washington Center’s annual gala on March 7.
The annual Award for Commitment to the Arts recognizes outstanding commitment to the arts through volunteerism, financial support, leadership, or advocacy by individuals or organizations based in the greater South Sound region, encompassing Pierce, Thurston, Mason and Lewis Counties).
McIntosh was first hired by the Washington Center just before the Center opened in September 1985, and he has been instrumental in shaping the technical excellence, professionalism, and welcoming spirit that define the venue today, according to Raak.
“Roger has truly been the heart and soul of the Washington Center since its very beginning,” said longtime board member, Dr. Alison Vega. “His leadership and steadfast integrity have shaped every interaction and made those of us lucky enough to train or work with him better for it.”
Center Executive Director Jill Barnes said, “Roger has been the foundational and kind spirit behind the Washington Center for the Performing Arts since our opening in 1985. He has shaped not only the technical excellence of our productions, but also the culture of respect, mentorship, and professionalism that so many of us have experienced firsthand. Over the years, he has welcomed thousands of artists to our stages, mentored countless technicians, and ensured that every performance — local or national — was delivered with care and integrity.”
After graduating from The Evergreen State College with a degree in technical theater, McIntosh worked in photography, marketing, and lighting design for bands in both Seattle and his hometown of Walla Walla.
Beyond his work at the Center, McIntosh served as adjunct faculty at TESC, teaching lighting design and mentoring emerging technical theater professionals. Also since 1985,
He has been the lighting designer for Ballet Northwest, including The Nutcracker and all major productions, a role he plans to continue.
McIntosh is widely recognized as a generous mentor who helped build a strong and inclusive technical theater community in the South Sound. He fostered an environment where emerging professionals were supported, collaboration was valued, and hard work was rewarded. Many artists and technicians credit him with giving them both opportunity and confidence at critical moments in their careers.
The naming of the Star Dressing Room stands as a tribute to the steady leadership, care, and commitment that have been the foundation and heartbeat of the Washington Center.
“The Center was a home away from home, with a routine that created a disciplined structure that allowed for an environment of survival from the outside world when life got real.” McIntosh said.
He went on to say, “From the beginning it seemed like the shows were the reason why and the motivation for the work I did, though that changed quickly towards the people I worked with, those that I cared for and those that I trusted to help bring about the change in me, that I was looking for.
“When I think back at what people ask about my experiences at the Center and or what were my favorite shows, what were my favorite memories, I have an immediate realization that what I was most effected by, were the day in and day out and what made a difference to more then just myself and the genuine relationships that were built by focusing on a common cause.
“The Center was a unique opportunity for me, with everyday being a bit different and challenging more than just enough, and to remind me that to pay attention to change was most Important.
“The entertainment business appears to be a social and exciting rollercoaster. The illusion of what happens on stage and what the audience experiences are not anymore important than the other. What we love, we live and we learn.
“I am grateful for all of those that I have worked with and what we have been able to experience together.”
See this article in the Spring 2026 Print Edition.