Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse asks for community support

Young Chang

COSTA MESA -- Community theater organizers are worried they may be

forced out of their space on school district property to make way for an

adult education program, although Newport-Mesa Unified officials have

said it is still too early to know if the playhouse will have to move.

Located on Rea Elementary School property, the Costa Mesa Civic

Playhouse shares a cluster of buildings with the Save Our Youth program,

an after-school program and the Boys & Girls Club. The school district

does not charge rent to the three groups to use the facilities, which are

not needed for classrooms, said Michael Fine, the district’s assistant

superintendent of finances.

However, the district is discussing whether to build an adult

education center on the grounds. That plan could mean the existing

buildings would be torn down -- a possibility that has playhouse

organizers concerned that they’ll have to close.

Newport-Mesa Supt. Robert Barbot said people may be getting ahead of

themselves.

“I just don’t know why there’s a question here yet,” he said. “We have

not sent [the playhouse] any communication saying we are putting them

out, because we’re not aware of a negative impact on them.”

Officials have discussed relocation with Save Our Youth and the Boys &

Girls Club because, if the adult education plans work out, the likelihood

that these groups would be affected is greater than changes to the

playhouse, Barbot said.

Fine added that Save Our Youth and the Boys & Girls Club have been

approached because they provide daily services to the Rea students.

“Those other two groups need to stay on campus because they provide a

service to kids on that campus,” he said. “The playhouse serves more than

kids on the campus.”

If the theater must move, the district would do everything it could to

help relocate it, Fine added. If the adult education center plans are

finalized, the project could begin in four or five months, he said.

Damien Lorton, playhouse director, said a campaign urging supporters

to write letters to city and school district officials will continue. He

said he hopes the district will support them if they relocate, and the

silence still has him concerned.

The 36-year-old theater group has been at its location on Hamilton

Street for 19 years. The playhouse hosts four to six productions a year

and provides nonprofessional actors a chance to perform.

“Nurses, telephone operators, soccer moms and grandmothers -- this is

their chance for themselves. It fills a void for them. It’s more than

just a hobby,” Lorton said.

In the summer, the playhouse runs an outreach program for students 4

to 16 years old. The program is free and subsidized by ticket sales and

donations, Lorton said.

Louisa Arnold, a patron of the theater for more than 20 years, said

the difference between the playhouse and other performance venues is

intimacy.

“It’s a little theater and there’s not a bad seat in the house, and

you are right up there with the performers,” she said.

Lorton said without outside help, the theater would not be able to

afford building a new facility, or even renting a space.

“We need a guardian angel,” Lorton said. “If the theater closes down

now and we aren’t funded by private or corporate donorship or the city, I

don’t think that the playhouse will be able to go on.”