Second Stage Planned for Playhouse

At their just-concluded annual retreat, Laguna Playhouse trustees decided to “acquire a site and establish a professional second stage,” executive director Richard Stein said Monday.

“We think it will take three years” to develop a permanent facility, Stein noted. Playhouse officials have spoken of the project with varying degrees of urgency for the past five years.

But the board does plan to seek a temporary storefront space for a second stage so it can begin operating within the next 12 months, Stein said.

The General Telephone Building in downtown Laguna Beach, which long was viewed as a prime site for a second stage, “is unlikely to be at the top of our list of options,” he added.

In related business at the retreat, the board discussed hopes of launching a summer festival of “adventuresome programming,” to be called “On the Edge.” It would run for a month at the Moulton Theatre, “possibly next July,” Stein said.

The board further decided to conduct a search for an artistic director to replace Douglas Rowe, who is to leave the post in June.

Stein said that the search will focus on candidates from California and that the board will choose by Feb. 1.

The new artistic director, who is to start work July 1, will be expected “to participate in play selection” with Stein and the board’s play selection committee.

The Playhouse’s capital campaign will be re-evaluated, Stein continued. The campaign, now dormant, has $870,000 in cash and pledges (a $500,000 grant from the Harry and Grace Steele Foundation, a $250,000 bequest from Carl Broderick and $120,000 in cash).