Theater

Tom Titus

Back in 1965, Costa Mesa was blessed with the birth of two theater

groups -- one with definite professional aspirations, the other committed

to production on the community level.

The pros -- South Coast Repertory -- succeeded mightily, bolstered by

gazillions of dollars from wealthy landowners and local arts patrons.

Today, SCR is a nationally recognized regional theater justly honored

with a Tony Award.

The community group -- the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse -- has had a

rougher row to hoe. Initially backed by the city of Costa Mesa, the group

has been going it alone these last few years. City funding dissolved

during the recession of the early 1990s, and the once-friendly

municipality has been turning an increasingly cold shoulder on the

thespians.

The Civic Playhouse not only produces five shows each season, it also

sponsors a community outreach program during the summer for disadvantaged

children who otherwise might not be able to participate in local

dramatics.

Previous outreach activities, directed by local musical actress

Adriana Sanchez, proved immensely rewarding, judging by the number of

youngsters participating. But since the kids aren’t charged to

participate, the money to fund the program must come from the playhouse

itself -- which is not exactly brimming over with greenbacks.

Basically, the Civic Playhouse is supported by the patrons who buy the

tickets. And most seem to be lukewarm to the traditional comedies and

dramas being offered. Recent shows such as “The Gingerbread Lady” and

“Coastal Disturbances” failed to bring in a significant amount of

revenue.

What the audiences really want are musicals, such as the playhouse’s

next project, “Gypsy,” opening in early June. So, starting next fall,

that’s what they’re going to get -- all musicals, all the time -- at

least for the 2000-2001 season.

While the new season hasn’t yet been set in stone, playhouse officials

have tentatively carded such tuneful entries as “Bye Bye, Birdie,” “The

Sound of Music,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Into

the Woods.”

But, to make money you’ve got to spend money, and musicals are

inordinately expensive to produce. Thus, the playhouse is putting on a

benefit show Friday and May 6 to raise money both to accommodate the

production of “Gypsy” and to fund this summer’s outreach program for

local children of limited means.

It’s an ambitious project, spearheaded by two people who comprise the

vanguard of the playhouse -- president Lynn Reinert and box office

manager Damien Lorton, who also is directing “Gypsy.” Information can be

garnered by calling the theater at (949) 650-5269.

For its first quarter century, the playhouse was operated by its

founder and queen mother, Pati Tambellini. Over the past four years,

Reinert has been the theater’s Joan of Arc -- and striving to avoid the

same fate as that historical figure.

Reinert, also an accomplished actress (and the Daily Pilot’s woman of

the year in theater for 1998), is as passionate about the playhouse’s

success as she has been in her stage performances. She is particularly

stung about the city’s ambivalence toward the theater it helped develop

in the 1960s.

“Perhaps I am either the ultimate cockeyed optimist or extremely

naive,” she says. “But I would like to think that a city -- especially

one that so proudly boasts the moniker ‘City of the Arts’ -- would be

grateful to us and proud of us.

“Or at least,” she continues, “supportive of an organization that has

been a part of its arts community for 35 years. Especially one which is

trying to provide an arts experience to members of its community who

otherwise might never get the opportunity.”

Reinert has put her money where her mouth is. Though she doesn’t make

a big deal about it, a good chunk of funding for the playhouse has come

from her own checkbook. That goes way above and beyond the call of duty

for community theater presidents.

Producing five consecutive musicals is going to cost the proverbial

arm and a leg. But if that’s what it takes to bring in the throngs of

playgoers necessary for the playhouse’s success, than that’s what will

happen.

Kevin Costner (who, coincidentally, performed at the playhouse about

30 years ago) once was told, “If you build it, they will come.”

The Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse plans to strike up the band and

construct its own field of dreams.TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the

Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Thursdays and Saturdays.