Stage Change

In what promises to be a major shake-up in the city of Ventura’s tiny theater community, Ventura Area Theatre-Sports will take over the venue formerly known as the Performance Studio, in Ventura’s Livery Arts Center, and rename it the Variety Theatre.

The changeover will take place--symbolically, at least--near the end of the TheatreSports New Year’s Eve party.

“The [$1,500 per month] lease that has been in my name for seven years is ending,” says Performance Studio founder Pamela Pilkinton, “and no one from my board of directors stepped forward to take that responsibility.”

Founded in December 1989, Ventura Area TheatreSports (the local affiliate of an organization of groups specializing in competitive improvisation) has been a resident in the Performance Studio for the past seven years. The group will perform every Saturday night, doubling its previous biweekly schedule.

Founder Tom Mueller says Friday nights will be devoted to music and comedy, and Sunday nights to jazz and classical performances, if all goes well.

“We want to get people used to this to the point where they’ll just come down to see what’s happening. We’re going to rent it month by month, initially, to see if it’s a doable thing or not.”

Pilkinton attempted to start another performance space at 38 W. Main St. last month but was thwarted by having to bring the building up to current earthquake and fire codes (among other problems).

She says she’ll continue with her dance company at the former Performance Studio while looking for yet another site for a downtown arts center.

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Last-Minute Yule Shows: Influenza attacks among several cast and crew members prompted the Santa Paula Theater Center’s last-minute cancellation of its holiday revue, “A Christmas Memory.” So where is there to go locally for a dose of seasonal cheer? Glad you asked.

The Santa Susana Repertory Company’s highly recommended annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” with Hamilton Camp as a frisky Scrooge and Anne Lockhart among the supporting cast, continues through this weekend at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Toni Frisk’s pleasing new adaptation of “Little Women” ends Sunday at the Arts Council Center, also in Thousand Oaks, and “Goldthumb, the Spy Who Stole Christmas” continues through Dec. 28 at Moorpark Melodrama.

New this weekend is “Happy Holiday!,” a revue at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. According to the center’s artistic director David Ralphe, the show will include a reading of Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory.”

BE THERE

“A Christmas Carol” concludes Sunday at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Forum Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, matinee at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $25; $22, seniors; $15, children 5-16. Tickets may be purchased at the Civic Arts Plaza box office, through any Ticketmaster outlet, or charged by telephone from Ticketmaster at (805) 583-8700 or (213) 480-3232. Information: (805) 497-8616.

“Little Women” continues at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and closes at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Drive (off Moorpark Road), Thousand Oaks. $10; $8, students and seniors. (805) 579-8163.

“Goldthumb, the Spy who Stole Christmas” continues through Dec. 28 at Moorpark Melodrama, 45 E. High St. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, with matinees at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. No performance Christmas Day. $12, $9.50 for seniors and children. (805) 529-1212.

“Happy Holiday!” plays at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. $15; $12, seniors and students; $8, children 12 and under. (805) 581-9940.

Ventura Area TheatreSports--For information on the New Year’s Eve party ($15 admission) or future bookings, call (805) 658-2352.