Serendipity Theatre Finds New Home

Serendipity Theatre Company’s search for a new home base, after financial considerations forced it to give up its residency at the Coronet Theatre last summer, is over.

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The Burbank City Council has given the green light to an agreement with the literature-based professional children’s theater to manage and operate the Burbank Little Theatre in George Izay Park for three years, with an option for an additional five years.

Under the terms of the agreement, Serendipity will provide at least five productions, plus children’s theater classes and an on-site school visitation program. The company will kick off its residency with a new production of Margery Williams’ poignant children’s classic “The Velveteen Rabbit,” adapted by Serendipity’s artistic director Scott Davidson, playing Saturday through April 30.

“We’re very excited to be moving into Burbank,” said Jody Davidson, Serendipity’s managing director. “If the support we’ve gotten from the city is any indication of the support we’ll get from the community, I think it’s going to be a long and successful residency for everyone.”

Serendipity, which employs members of Actors’ Equity in its productions, will continue to do so at the small 99-seat Burbank Little Theatre under a special provision with the union, approved Wednesday, which allows for a separate pay scale than that required at larger theaters.

Serendipity’s residency is “real exciting for us,” said Burbank Park and Recreation Director Mary Alvord, “and kind of a change in operations style at the Little Theater,” which previously housed mostly adult theater productions.

“I think this is a great idea, given the fact that the theater is located in a park adjacent to a playground facility, ball fields and a lot of other park and recreation features geared toward children. I think it’s a perfect match,” she enthused.

Up next at the theater will be stagings of two children’s book favorites: “Ramona Quimby” (May 6-21) and “Black Beauty” (June 11-July 2). Information: (310) 836-8002.

Hitting a Different Note: The latest recording from Craig Taubman and his Craig ‘n Co. rock ‘n’ roll band, one of children’s music’s top acts, is “My Jewish Discovery,” playful original children’s songs and poems about Jewish life and culture.

The album, commissioned by the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles and My Jewish Discovery Place Children’s Museum, features Fyvush Finkel of “Picket Fences” reading two poems and songs that range from an ode to Jewish food to a doo-wop, “Shabababat Shalom.” Information: (818) 760-1077.