Theatre on Main to Open in Ventura in 1999

A new professional theater company in Ventura has been announced by its artistic director, Los Angeles actor Jack Heller. To be called Theatre on Main, the company would occupy a former United Pentecostal church at Main and Laurel, recently bought by local businessman Doug Halter, who has donated the space to Heller’s nonprofit corporation for several months. The seating capacity will be around 200.

Over a period of six or seven months beginning in February, Heller hopes to present “Tennessee in the Summer” by Joe Besecker and then 17 of Tennessee Williams’ one-acts, two or three at a time, for runs of several weeks, using an Actors’ Equity contract.

Heller acted in a production of “Tennessee in the Summer” in Hollywood earlier this year.