Hotel Sets Stage for Musicals

The Valley Civic Light Opera company, which failed to stage its announced debut last year, is scheduled to begin again with a three-production season in, of all places, a ballroom at the Universal City Hilton.

The company plans to produce one musical, “Man of La Mancha,” in June and musical concerts of “Gypsy” and “Mame” in August and September. Ken Kercheval of the prime-time soap “Dallas” will star in “Man of La Mancha” and, according to the company, Lainie Kazan has been signed as Mama Rose in “Gypsy.”

Cynics might suggest that a hotel ballroom is as cultural as the San Fernando Valley gets, but the opera company selected this site for two reasons: First, the ballroom seats 1,100 people, making it one of the largest local venues. Second, Hilton officials were willing to defer rent until after the company sells some tickets.

The hotel is also equipping its Sierra Ballroom with tiered seating, a new sound system and a raised stage.

However, the productions will have a Spartan look.

“There won’t be a set. We haven’t decided if we’re going to use costumes,” said David Hock, the opera company’s executive producer. “Besides that, it’s like going to the Shubert or the Ahmanson.”

Last spring, Hock announced that he would stage a $200,000, three-week run of “Guys and Dolls” at Cal State Northridge’s Campus Theater. That show never hit the boards. This summer’s incarnation will cost $80,000 per production because the shows will run only three nights each.

The opera company has received needed start-up money from Rockwell International. Neither the opera company nor Rockwell would disclose the amount.

Hock will direct “Man of La Mancha.” The producer said he once acted in a Long Beach Civic Light Opera production of the musical, and later organized a national tour starring Ed Ames that was canceled because of scheduling problems.

So far, Kercheval and Kazan are the only well-known performers signed to this summer’s productions. Hock said he is negotiating to get Charlotte Rae, formerly in the TV sitcom “Facts of Life,” for “Mame.”

“When the production fell apart with CSUN, I had two choices: either let the Valley Civic Light Opera die or find another place,” Hock said. “The hotel was interested and enthusiastic enough to give me a home.”

The Universal City Hilton is at 555 Universal Terrace Parkway. Performance dates for “Man of La Mancha” are June 11, 18 and 25. “Gypsy” will be staged Aug. 6, 13 and 20. “Mame” will be on Sept. 3, 10 and 16. Tickets are $82.50 for the series, $30 for individual performances. Call 708-VCLO.