Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 9, September 2003

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Civic Light Opera moves, but stays in North End

By JAMES BUSH

After 25 years at the former Jane Addams school in Meadowbrook, Civic Light Opera has moved to a new operating home and found a new performance venue.

The nonprofit group, devoted to producing family-appropriate musicals at affordable ticket prices, has moved its costume shop, rehearsal facilities, and administrative offices to 932 N 127th Street. The CLO box office will be located in its new performing home, the Shoreline Conference Center.

Producing Artistic Director Greg Morales says the move, which took place at the start of July, was necessitated by the group's inability to negotiate a lease extension with the Seattle School District. With the expanding Summit K-12 alternative school using more and more space in the former Addams building, CLO had little choice but to turn down the district's offer of a month-to-month agreement and seek other quarters.

"For a theater producing company, you need some kind of foundation and schedule that allows you to plan," says Morales. "We wish them well."

The move has both advantages and disadvantages, he says. The group's former space had very little storage space, forcing the troupe to dismantle its sets after productions. The new auditorium also has a larger capacity, air conditioning, and theater-style seats, he says. On the down side, the multi-purpose conference center stage lacks the overhead fly system of a dedicated theater, so the group will have to simplify its set designs in future productions. The new rehearsal space is also slightly smaller than the stage where the group will perform, which will make for cramped quarters when practicing large production numbers.

The group is also feeling the economic pinch that has affected arts organizations throughout the region: Former managing director Rick May is no longer with CLO, requiring Morales and Business Manager Ann Arends to take on additional duties. The group will also cut the run of this year's four productions from the usual four weeks to three.

On the upside, CLO's subscription renewals are at a strong 87 percent, says Morales. The board of directors plans to add more members and to seek more volunteers to help with the workload. The budget switch also allows the group to spend more on publicity.

The group has also made the commitment to maintain its I Spy summer children's program. "Like any arts organization, we realize the potential of these future theater people" both as performers and audience members, he notes.

"In my three years here, we've seen seven theaters fall by the wayside," says Morales. "And Civic Light Opera is not going to be one of those."

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Civic Light Opera will open its 2003-04 season on Thursday, Sept. 18, with a production of "Kiss Me Kate," directed by John Patrick Lowrie. For ticket information, call 363-2809.