City looking for theater operator

Wanted: someone to operate Los Angeles Theatre Center.

The Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department has managed the city-owned downtown complex since the building’s original operating company collapsed in 1991. But last week the department issued a request for proposals from any other interested parties who might like to take over.

Applications are due June 17. The target date for the new operator to begin managing the building is Jan. 2. The city will continue to own LATC and pay for utilities and what the city’s request describes as “major maintenance services.”

The planned shift of operators follows the city’s recent decision to transfer management of another municipal theater, the Madrid in Canoga Park, from Cultural Affairs to the private Valley Cultural Center organization, beginning July 1.

The moves stem in part from cuts in the Cultural Affairs budget, from last year’s originally budgeted $12. 9 million to a proposed figure of $11.8 million for 2003-04.