Ebony Staging Last-Ditch Survival Effort

A “Save the Ebony Showcase Theatre” fund-raiser will be held this weekend at the cultural center, 4720 W. Washington Blvd.

Five programs are slated as part of the event: comedy tonight, rap on Saturday afternoon, jazz on Saturday night, gospel on Sunday afternoon and “multicultural performing arts” on Sunday evening.

Nick and Edna Stewart, owners of the cultural center, face a foreclosure sale of the property next Friday. They are trying to raise at least $150,000 in a last-ditch attempt to avert the sale.

Their daughter, theater administrator Valerie Knight, said the electricity at the center will be turned off on Monday if an $8,000 bill isn’t paid by then.

The Stewarts founded the center 42 years ago. Nick Stewart, who played Lightnin’ on “Amos ‘n’ Andy,” presented plays at the Ebony in which he tried to depict positive images of blacks. The theater became best known for a seven-year run of a black version of “Norman, Is That You?” in the ‘70s.

Since expensive earthquake renovations began in 1984, the building has been used primarily as a rental facility and as an educational and community center. Information: (213) 936-1107.