I was asked to write about what I know best…the theatre in Ventura County.
I have been involved with the Ventura County Theatre Scene for 25 years now and have worked with and/or seen productions from every theatre in this county from professional (those with Equity contracts) to “community” theatre (or as I like to call them “non-union” theatre) to college (there are some really quality college productions with some great up in coming talent) to high school (the same goes for this category as well). Within this column, I will try and communicate and notify everyone about what is coming up in the area…all of the choices…as well as, when I go to see a production, I will let you know how I feel. AKA a review.
Pretty simple.
So, for the first column…allow me tell you about an organization that started out from the need for communication.
A few years back, the local theatres were very separate…it was a dark period in our history. There were overlapping seasons…constant rumors about each other…no accountability…it was dark. But then, in February of 2007, two people (Leslie Nichols and Frank Malle) had the bright idea to bring the four major “non union” theatres together…sort of a theatrical summit. From that moment on, the Four Star Theatre Committee has stood for (as their mission statement states): to promote a spirit of camaraderie, cooperation, and mutual respect among theaters; to honor work done by member theaters; and to gather in a social setting at the end of the season to celebrate our successes).
It began with four theatres (hence the name): Camarillo Community Theatre, Elite Theatre in Oxnard, Santa Paula Theatre Center, and the Ojai Arts Center Theatre. Last year the High Street Arts Center in Moorpark joined. Next year…who knows. I have been involved with them for the past two seasons, and hope to continue with them (in some capacity) for the near future.
Each year, the committee produces the Four Star Theatre Awards (usually held at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center). This awards ceremony is from the previous voting by the committee members of the Four Star (each theatre has 3 representatives). Three representatives (usually NOT from the same theatre) are assigned a specific theatre to attend, make notes, and at the end of each season, vote on the specific categories to which awards will be given. Each theatre is competing against itself…rather than “the best of” for the entire community. It is the “best of” for that particular season at that particular theatre.
It has, so far, brought the theatre community together and has almost cleared up any overlapping seasons and the rumor mill has almost run dry!
At this point in time, the ceremony itself, is held at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center and will be on Sunday evening of January 24, 2010 and is by invitation only. But this writer hopes that one day we will have a facility large enough to hold (not only) the award recipients and their guests, the theatre boards of directors, press, but also the public who the theatre community would be nothing without.
And…scene!
Onwards and Upwards,
Jeff Wallach
Ventura County Theatre Arts Columnist
