Pasadena Playhouse Expands Circuit to Poway Center : Stage: Preston Sturges’ ‘A Cup of Coffee’ is the first production heading to San Diego County.

The Pasadena Playhouse will export its productions to the south as well as to the northwest, it was announced Friday.

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts in northern San Diego County will join the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara to make up a regional touring circuit for Pasadena productions, starting next season.

The first production to hit the road, Preston Sturges’ “A Cup of Coffee,” will play Pasadena July 19-Aug. 23, move to Poway Sept. 3-20, then land in Santa Barbara Sept. 24-Oct. 11.

Playhouse officials had been negotiating for the use of the Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego as their San Diego County venue. Jacquie Littlefield, owner of the Spreckels, said the “deal dropped dead at the n th moment” and that she was told it was because Poway offered better financial terms.

But Lars Hansen, executive director of the Playhouse, said money was not the reason. Instead, he called the size of the Poway--815 seats--a better match for productions that originate at the 700-seat Playhouse than the 1,450 seats at the Spreckels. And he cited the “tremendous growth” of the area around Poway and the desire of its suburban residents to see professional theater without a long drive.

The agreement with the facility owned by the city of Poway is a two-year lease for 18 weeks a year.