NORTH HOLLYWOOD : Troupe Gets Funding OK for Major Valley Theater

A small theatrical troupe in North Hollywood took a significant step Thursday toward establishing the first major live theater complex in the San Fernando Valley in decades.

Actors Alley received approval for $250,000 in grants and loans from the Community Redevelopment Agency to begin renovating the venerable El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. The funds will be used to temporarily divide the now-dark theater into 199- and 99-seat spaces to open in the spring. The funding package still must be approved by the Los Angeles City Council.

The proposal by the troupe--which has been performing in a 99-seat, converted storefront for 21 years--is a benchmark because theaters with more than 99 seats have full Actors Equity status, meaning performers are paid union scale at minimum.