Canoga Park : Architect Hired to Design New Theater

The Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to hire an architectural firm for $250,000 to design a community theater on the former site of an X-rated movie house in Canoga Park.

The council approved a three-year contract with FMSY Architects, which designed or renovated the Back Alley Theatre in Van Nuys, the Los Angeles Actors Theatre and the Tiffany Theatre in West Hollywood.

Using a $2.6-million federal grant, city officials plan to build a 500-seat theater near the intersection of Sherman Way and Owensmouth Street--at the site of the former Pussycat Theater.

The building in which the Pussycat was located, originally known as the Madrid Theater, had existed on Sherman Way for 68 years before it was severely damaged in the Northridge earthquake. It was razed last April after city inspectors ruled that the building was damaged beyond repair.

The new community theater, which will be called the Madrid Theater, is expected to host live theater, symphony music, motion pictures and other cultural events. The city would either operate the theater or turn it over to a nonprofit group.

The theater has been championed by Karen Constine, chief of staff for Councilwoman Laura Chick, who represents the Canoga Park area.

“I’m confident that FMSY will design a top-rate performance venue that the entire community will be very proud of,” Chick said.

Construction of the theater is scheduled to begin next year and be completed in early 1998.