The City of West Hollywood is moving forward with a new playhouse facility located at 8325 Santa Monica Boulevard. As the second part of the design team selection process, a City Manager’s Playhouse Advisory Group will meet to discuss and analyze the project with staff and identify strengths and weaknesses of the three preliminary playhouse design visions presented at 4 p.m. Tuesday July 19, 2022.
The former Coast Playhouse, built in 1925 along the original Route 66, isn’t in good shape — restrooms don’t work, the mechanical equipment is outdated, and there are public safety issues, too.
Council recently voted unanimously to raze the building, which has little historical value, and replace it with a new structure. They capped the budget at $6.5 million.
“I think that the public has been waiting for this space for quite some time,” said Councilmember John Erickson. “I want to give this back to the community as soon as possible.”
According to the city: “The Playhouse will provide the city with a much-needed dedicated performance space (as recommended in the 2007 Cultural Facilities Needs Assessment), and will provide opportunities for live theatre, concerts, art exhibitions, and rehearsals. The Playhouse will serve as an arts and cultural event center, to support nonprofit arts organizations and artists with an accessible venue in the city’s center. Staff is considering different operational strategies to oversee the Playhouse including city as sole operator, city leasing the property to a resident company (theatre, performing arts, or non-profit arts organization) for performances, and combination of the two scenarios. The Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission will participate in the development of the programming for the Playhouse.”
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
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STAFF CONTACT:
For more information, please reach out to Ric Abramson at rabramson@weho.org
Is the meeting date in the article correct? If it is, this article announcing it is a week late! Please clarify for your readers.
The City Calendar specifies today, Tuesday 7/26/22.
It would be a great advantage if people on the Advisory Group were actually knowledgeable and qualified. Additionally, the The Arts & Cultural Affairs Commission have not demonstrated any expertise or good judgement.
The community would benefit from skilled folks thinking of the wider scope rather than the narrow friends of friends
On no!…….Not the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission!