THEATER NOTES : Tapering Down the CTG Staff

The two halves of the Center Theatre Group--the Mark Taper Forum and the Ah manson Theatre--are creeping closer together.

No, not the buildings. We’re talking about the management structure. Let’s call this restructuring “perestroika” in honor of the 1992 Taper production that used the same title.

As with Russian-style perestroika, a few people are being left out. The three general manager jobs at the three larger theaters CTG has been using--the Taper, the Ahmanson and Doolittle--are being combined into one.

Doug Baker, who has been general manager at the Doolittle, will take over the new title of CTG general manager on July 1. His chief assistant will be the newly promoted associate general manager Mark Nichols.

Karen Wood, the Taper general manager, will be out of work. Ahmanson general manager Ellen Lee will depart after “Miss Saigon” closes in October.

Now that the Ahmanson series has returned to the Ahmanson after six seasons at the Doolittle, some shrinkage at the general manager level was probably inevitable. But what enabled Baker alone to survive? CTG managing director Charles Dillingham declined to say.

However, Dillingham emphasized that these recent moves are part of the “gradual, not radical” process that began when Taper artistic director Gordon Davidson also took over producing duties for the Ahmanson series in 1989.

For example, former Taper managing director Stephen J. Albert wasn’t replaced when he left in 1991. Instead, Dillingham was hired to oversee the business operations of both theaters. The audience development, graphics and casting departments at the two theaters also have been united in recent years.

“It’s one organization with two theaters,” Dillingham said.

He said the rationale for the moves is “logic and efficiency rather than finances.” But he also acknowledged that the consolidation of the two wings saves money--though he wouldn’t say how much.

Many theaters nationwide are “making sure they’re lean and mean in order to survive,” the departing Wood noted.

Wood said she had “a wonderful time” at the Taper and “one always feels regret when the experience has been good.” She said she had earlier discussed with CTG brass the possibility of opening up her position to include more producing, but Davidson and Dillingham didn’t want to go in that direction.

The Taper already has its own producing director and associate artistic director in Robert Egan and Corey Beth Madden, whose jobs have not (yet, at any rate) been expanded to include duties at the Ahmanson.

The literary department also remains a Taper operation, without extra Ahmanson responsibilities. The press and advertising departments of the two CTG branches remain separate, at least for now.

The total number of full-time CTG jobs has been reduced from 112 in 1992 to 96.