Big plans for small companies

Michael Ritchie, who took over as artistic director of Center Theatre Group on Jan. 1, has tossed out an idea that has many in the L.A. theatrical community salivating -- even though no one knows exactly how it might work.

He wants to open his group’s new Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City for use by other local theater companies.

Ritchie mentioned the idea last week before several dozen theater artists who gathered for a reception sponsored by CTG’s new Diversity Advisory Committee. “We will carve out time in our season for the smaller companies to present them to a larger audience,” he said. Speaking of the entire L.A. theatrical community, he added, “a rising tide floats all ships.”

Not surprisingly, representatives of several smaller L.A. theaters expressed delight at the idea, especially those whose troupes have no permanent homes. All wanted details.

Richard Kagan, president of the CTG board, said, “I can’t imagine that any board member wouldn’t think this was a smart thing,” but he added that “we haven’t seen specific proposals.”

In an interview, Ritchie said he hasn’t worked those out: “It’s so much at the beginning stages of an idea. I’m happy to throw it out. The devil’s in the details, but I think we could pull it off.”

He said that L.A. is an underrated theater town in part because many small companies receive little exposure.

Opening up the Douglas also would benefit CTG, he said. It would be “a different way to approach play development -- find some of these companies that have talent and will but not resources.”

Does this mean his company’s current way of developing new work -- in-house labs, readings, workshops, commissions -- is on the way out? “At this moment, no,” he said. Such projects will continue “as they exist, yes, but I’m doing a lot of review of everything.”

Luis Alfaro, who runs the new plays programs at CTG and who has been an enthusiastic supporter of other companies, said: “Anything we can get our artistic director to do that involves the local arts community is very exciting. I’m thrilled to help make it happen. There’s a lot of time at the Douglas. I’m trying to stay very positive about it.”

Ritchie suggested that the Douglas could perhaps host an annual festival of small companies “or carve out a slot for one company each year.” He said that such collaborations might be co-productions, such as the partnership with Deaf West Theatre that brought “Big River” to CTG’s Mark Taper Forum. Or it might be a matter of the other companies producing the work but with logistical support from CTG.

Such efforts might require additional funding, Ritchie said, but “we could make a case for it with CTG supporters and with foundations.”

One reason extra money might be needed is that many small companies work on Actors’ Equity’s 99-Seat Theater Plan, which requires only token payments to actors. At the 315-seat Douglas, Equity contracts require heftier salaries for actors.

Ritchie mentioned the idea at a lunch with local Equity officials, but it was just “a germ of an idea,” said Equity’s Joe Garber.