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Fountain Theatre approved by City of Los Angeles to install outdoor stage during pandemic
Artist rendering by Matthew Hill
The Fountain Theatre has received approval from the City of Los Angeles to install a temporary outdoor stage for the purpose of presenting live performances and other events during the pandemic.
"Pandemic permitting, we hope to open our first outdoor production by late spring or early summer," says Fountain artistic director Stephen Sachs. "We're planning an exciting Los Angeles premiere that dramatizes urgent social issues using the Fountain's signature bold and theatrical approach."
Installed in what is now the theater parking lot, the new performance area will be able to accommodate 50 to 84 audience members. It will feature seven rows of chairs, each six feet apart, as well as 12 high-top tables positioned six feet apart for use by patrons from the same "bubble" households. Every aspect of the outdoor performance area will meet COVID-19 safety guidelines.
According to Sachs, "The most painful aspect of the past ten months has been the separation from our patrons and the disconnection from our art form. Until our indoor theater reopens, the outdoor stage will be a thrilling performance venue and a hub for our educational and community engagement programs. The outdoor stage will be the centerpiece as we re-emerge in 2021. It galvanizes our vision moving forward."
The Fountain Theatre outdoor stage is made possible, in part, by the generous support of Karen Kondazian, the Vladimir and Araxia Buckhantz Foundation, Rabbi Anne Brener, Carrie Chassin and Jochen Haber, Miles and Joni Benickes, and the Phillips-Gerla Family.
Want to join our family of donors and become an integral partner in making this thrilling new venture possible? Email Barbara Goodhill at Barbara@FountainTheatre.com.
The mission of the Fountain Theatre is to create, develop and publicly produce plays that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles, to serve young people through educational outreach programs, and to enhance the lives of the public with community engagement activities. For three decades, the Fountain has earned acclaim and admiration nationwide, been honored with more than 200 awards for artistic excellence and is a leader in the L.A. theater community. The organization is proud to count L.A. City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell, and Mayor Eric Garcetti as supporters, reflecting the company's successful history of partnering with City government. In addition to being a Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs grant recipient for decades, the Fountain launched a groundbreaking program that brings celebrity actors to L.A. City Hall to perform one-night free public readings in the City Council chambers.
Posted in Arts, arts organizations, Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, performing arts, Theater, theatre
Tagged Anne Brener, arts, arts organizations, Barbara Goodhill, Carrie Chassin, Eric Garcetti, Fountain Theatre, Jochen Haber, Karen Kondazian, Los Angeles, Miles Benickes, Mitch O'Farrell, Outdoor Stage, Stephen Sachs, theater, theatre, Vladimir and Araxia Buckhantz Foundation
When City Hall and local artists work together, all citizens of our city benefit
Reading of 'All the President's Men', LA City Hall, Jan 27th, 2018.
by Stephen Sachs
Los Angeles is hailed as The City of Dreams. But our one-night reading of William Goldman's screenplay for All the President's Men at City Hall inspired me in one way that I could never imagine.
We knew we had a good idea. The right project at the right time delivering the right message for the right reason. We knew inviting celebrity actors to participate would heighten public interest. We knew we had the ideal location in the Los Angeles City Council Chamber at City Hall. What I didn't know, what caught me by surprise, were the men and women who work there.
The Fountain Theatre has enjoyed a longtime friendship with the City of Los Angeles. We have benefited from the generous grant support of the Department of Cultural Affairs for more than twenty-five years.
Eric Garcetti was our City Councilmember in District 13. His parents, Gil Garcetti and Sukey Roth Garcetti, are longstanding Fountain Theatre members. Eric was more than our Councilmember for twelve years. He was our friend. I am forever grateful to Eric and his staff for coming to our side at the Fountain Theatre's moment of darkest tragedy.
Our beloved Fountain colleague Ben Bradley was savagely murdered in his apartment on New Year's Day, 2010. We were inundated with calls and emails of condolence from the LA theatre community. Eric's staff at Council District 13 came by our office, in person, asking, "What can we do to help?" I was blown away. We sat down together, shared memories of Ben, and planned his memorial service at the Gallery Theatre in Barnsdall Park. Eric's office arranged for us to have access to the venue at no charge. Eric attended the memorial and spoke at the service. He showed up for us. He was there.
Eric was elected mayor of Los Angeles in 2013. My wife and I happily attended his reelection swearing-in ceremony last year on the steps of City Hall. For five years, The Fountain's City Councilmember has been Garcetti's former District Director and senior advisor, Mitch O'Farrell.
Stephen Sachs and Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell
Mitch has always been a strong advocate for the arts in Los Angeles. For years, Mitch has championed the significance of the network of intimate theatres throughout our city. He took a stand and spoke out publicly on our behalf when we battled with Actors Equity Association over the 99-Seat Plan. He was instrumental in designating a section of Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood as Theatre Row. He knows intimate theatres enhance the cultural landscape of Los Angeles. Once an actor and dancer himself, he is one of us. He gets it.
I placed a call to Mitch's Field Deputy, Dan Halden, last year about our reading of All the President's Men. I was adamant that the reading happen close to January 20th, the one-year anniversary of the Trump administration. I was looking for the appropriate location. It needed it to be some place symbolic. I wanted the building itself to hold meaning, make a statement. I called Dan thinking a room at City Hall would be good. Dan agreed. I was then floored when he suggested, "You know, the City Council Chamber might be available. Your actors could sit in the Councilmembers' chairs …" It was then that the event crystalized from an idea in my mind into something I could see.
Months of planning quickly followed. We had to move fast. The Fountain staff leaped into action. A casting director was hired. A consulting firm was brought on. Most remarkably, Dan Halden and his team at Council District 13 were hands-on, all the way. When using a City building for a public event, every detail must be worked out. Security, parking, access, maintenance, the LAPD, the Fire Department, the press, catering, the offices that oversee use of equipment. All of this was handled through a blizzard of emails, phone calls and in-person meetings with Fountain staff and CD13 personnel. Everything overseen by Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell.
Receiving a grant award from the City of Los Angeles is a wonderful thing. Financial support from the city is essential and the Fountain is deeply grateful each year. All the President's Men demanded a different kind of support from the city. It was more than just signing contracts and receiving a check in the mail. This was the rare, exhilarating experience of two teams working together, of Fountain staff and City staff rolling up their sleeves and getting the nuts-and-bolts items done. We were truly partners. Fully invested personally, professionally and ideologically. All of it executed with efficiency, good humor, and energized by knowing that we were pulling off something that had never been done before in that building.
I am so proud of our city. What other major city in the country would hand over City Hall to its artists? Would have its Councilmembers allow artists to literally sit in their seats for one night to express an urgent fundamental truth about our country through their art?
As Washington wallows mired in stagnant gridlock, the city of Los Angeles offers a lesson in public partnership to the nation. When I first called Mitch O'Farrell's office with the idea to use City Hall as a civic performance space for this reading, the expected government response would have been "no". Instead, carrying forward the heartfelt spirt of his predecessor, Mitch O'Farrell answered, "What can we do to help?"
I believe last Saturday night's reading of All the President's Men at City Hall was a watershed moment in our city's engagement with local arts organizations. We should not let it end there, on that evening. Our hope is that we use the lessons and rewards earned from this experience to discuss more partnerships like this in the future. When local artists and city government officials work together, all citizens of our city benefit.
"Art can highlight things that need to change," Mitch O'Farrell pointed out to the City Hall crowd in his opening remarks for All the President's Men. "And draw parallels to historical lessons that can propel humanity forward."
Stephen Sachs is the Co-Artistic Director of the Fountain Theatre.
Posted in actors, Art, Arts, arts organizations, Drama, Fountain Theatre, government, Hollywood, Los Angeles, non-profit organization, performing arts, Social justice, Theater, theatre
Tagged All the President's Men, Ben Bradley, City Hall, Council District 13, Dan Halden, Eric Garcetti, Gil Garcetti, government, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Council, Mitch O'Farrell, screenplay, Stephen Sachs, Sukey Roth Garcetti, theater, theatre, Watergate, William Goldman
Fountain Theatre Awarded Grant to Create, Develop and Produce a New Play in 2015
Fountain Team: Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, Barbara Goodhill and Deborah Lawlor
The Fountain Theatre has been awarded a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs in the amount of $6,840 for the purpose of creating, developing and producing a new play in 2014-15.
Since its founding in 1980, the acclaimed Fountain Theatre has been dedicated to creating and producing new plays that reflect the cultural diversity of Los Angeles and the nation. In twenty-four years of public service, the Fountain Theatre has presented over 100 productions of plays including 32 world premieres and 43 U.S./Regional premieres.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell hailed the grant. "Thank you for your administrative diligence and artistic vision in providing Los Angeles residents with affordable, unique, and exciting opportunities."
"We deeply appreciate the years of ongoing support provided to the Fountain by the City of Los Angeles, " beamed Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs. "Mayor Eric Garcetti was our former Councilmember and he remains a good friend of the Fountain."
Stephen Sachs and Deborah Lawlor with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti
The grant from the City of Los Angeles will support the creation and production of a new play at the Fountain Theatre in 2015. The coming year also happens to be the Fountain's 25th Anniversary Season.
Posted in Arts, arts organizations, Drama, Fountain Theatre, grants, new plays, non-profit organization, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre
Tagged Barbara Goodhill, Deborah Lawlor, Department of Cultural Affairs, Eric Garcetti, Fountain Theatre, grant, Los Angeles, new play, new play development, performing arts, plays, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, theater, theatre
Eric Garcetti Declares "The Mayor says 'Everyone Go See 'The Normal Heart'"
Stephen Sachs and Deborah Lawlor with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is a longtime member of the Fountain Family. His parents, Gil and Sukey Garcetti, have been Fountain subscribers for more than a decade starting back with our LA jazz play Central Avenue in 2001 when Gil was the Los Angeles District Attorney. Eric was elected to the LA City Council in 2001 and served as our Councilman in our 13th District for twelve years. We were thrilled and proud when he was elected mayor in May of this year.
Over the years as our Councilman, Eric and his staff were always there when the Fountain needed him. We will be forever grateful for his friendship and support in our darkest hour of grief. The day after learning of the brutal slaying of our Fountain colleague Ben Bradley in 2010, Eric Garcetti's office immediately contacted us, asking "what can we do to help?" Members of Eric's staff personally came over to the Fountain to help us plan Ben's memorial. They arranged to make the 300-seat City-owned Gallery Theatre in Barnsdall Park available to us free of charge for the service. And Eric Garcetti attended the memorial and spoke.
Last night was a happier time to see now-Mayor Eric Garcetti. A reception honoring him was held at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood. Fountain Co-Artistic Director Deborah Lawlor and I were invited to attend. We wouldn't have missed it for the world.
LA Gay & Lesbian Center plaza.
The cocktail event was held on the outdoor plaza of the Center. It was a warm, pleasant night. Before Garcetti's arrival, about 200 invited guests enjoyed drinks and hors d'oeuvres. It was nice chatting with East West Players Artistic Director Tim Dang, whose husband, Darrel Cummings is the Center's Chief of Staff. And connecting with Jon Imparato, the Center's Director of Cultural Arts and producer of their upcoming production of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.
After a lively introduction from Center CEO Lorri L. Jean, Mayor Garcetti spoke. His remarks were casual and friendly and sprinkled with humor, emphasizing social inclusion and his longtime commitment to the LGBT community. He was intelligent, poised, and articulate. Our new Mayor balances charismatic star power with the skill to connect with people as fellow human beings.
Deborah and I grabbed him briefly after this remarks. He seemed happy to see us. "My parents were just at the Fountain a few weeks ago to see Heart Song," he exclaimed.
Eric and I had a short conversation about how the Fountain can best take advantage of the surge of redevelopment in Hollywood and achieve the Fountain's goal of acquiring a larger venue. We bemoaned the loss of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). But Eric had some ideas and suggestions. And, as always, offered to help.
As someone snapped a photo, Garcetti held a postcard from our upcoming Fountain production of The Normal Heart, opening September 21st, and declared with a broad grin:
"The Mayor says 'Everyone Go See The Normal Heart!"
You heard him. Better do what the man says. He just might be President some day.
The Normal Heart Sept 21 – Nov 3 (323) 663-1525 MORE
Posted in Acting, actors, AIDS, Arts, arts organizations, Drama, Fountain Theatre, Gay, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre
Tagged AIDS, Ben Bradley, Darrel Cummings, Deborah Lawlor, East West Players, Eric Garcetti, Fountain Theatre, gay, Gil Garcetti, Heart Song, Jon Imparato, LA Gay and Lesbian Center, Larry Kramer, Lorri L. Jean, Los Angeles, Mayor, performing arts, plays, Stephen Sachs, The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, The Normal Heart, theater, theatre, Tim Dang
Fountain Theatre
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