When Gene Franklin Smith took over the directorship of the Malibu Playhouse this spring, it was with the idea of transforming the company into “a regional theater on a par with the Laguna Playhouse or the La Jolla Playhouse.” Then he got a closer look at the theater.
“I was really kind of shocked at the state of the theater,” Smith said. “I feel one of the problems is the misperception that we are funded by Malibu celebrities. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
In fact, when he arrived, he found a venue sadly wearing its neglect after some ten years of per- formances. The primary problems concerned the most basic aspects of stagecraft: poor lighting infrastructure and fragile, poorly built boards to tread.
For reasons lost to memory, when the theater was converted from its old Shepherd-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church iteration, the stage was constructed at a steep rake—a six-inch rise from the front of the apron to the back of the stage. Such an architectural quirk might work when staging something by Aeschylus, but doesn’t really serve modern day performance—particularly musical comedy. It can be dangerous for dancers.
“And with the great stadium seating we have, it’s not even necessary,” Smith said.
Chairman of the Board of Malibu Playhouse Geoff Ortiz concurred with Smith.
“We’re a charitable organization,” Ortiz said. “We never had the funds, support or attention to address these problems until now. Much of the theater was finished back in ’99 and hasn’t been renovated since.”
The lighting grid was installed six feet too high on inadequately prepared piping, with ongoing electrical problems plaguing productions. The result was a raft of shows with unintentionally somber lighting. The backstage area is “a dump” in Smith’s estimation, the carpeting stained and torn in the house. He had not seen any of this when he interviewed for the directorship, but he soon determined what needed to change.
Clearly, a world-class theater company needed a profound restoration of the theater, quickly, if Smith’s new tenure was to unroll as successfully as he envisioned. So he did what any enterprising theater director would do: He launched an Indiegogo fundraiser.
Crowdfunding platforms like Indiegogo and Kickstarter have become a hot source for quick financial fundraising of many an artists’ project. Dresden Dolls singer Amanda Palmer was looking to raise $100,000 for her 2012 album “Theatre is Evil;” she was rewarded with a whopping $1.2 million from her fans. The Malibu Playhouse’s goals are more modest: $50,000. They’ve gotten a little more than $11,000 in pledges so far, with about two weeks to go in the fundraising drive.
Ortiz said there was serious renovation required in the lobby and backstage, lamenting having to “bring in world-class actors to such an ugly dressing room.”
Smith said he was aware that the theater space being up for sale might inhibit locals from making donations, fearing that their money would be “thrown away.” He’s skeptical that the theater would be sold from under them, especially since it’s been on the market already for two years.
“Any buyer would have to invest substantial money in renovation of the entire property,” he said. “A little investment now would enhance property value for the future.”
The Indiegogo campaign is offering some interesting “goodies” to donors: $100 will get you the voice of AMC’s Rick Wasserman on your outgoing voice message machine. The voice actor who provides lead-ins for “Mad Men,” “The Walking Dead” and “Breaking Bad” is a supporter of the Malibu Playhouse.
Three hundred dollars will get Bob Bergen’s voice on your outgoing message. The actor has voiced Porky Pig for 20 years. Four hundred dollars will snag you two bleacher seats to the Red Carpet at the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Five hundred dollars gets you a four-course gourmet dinner prepared for you in your home by a professional chef.
Ortiz said the board sees the Indiegogo campaign as a way to facilitate re-branding of the theater company.
“We need new signage immediately,” Ortiz said. “This is a chance for us to really present Malibu Playhouse as a brand new entity.”
Smith sees it as a community issue.
“I would really like to get the Malibu community informed about the sorry state of their theater,” Smith said. “My goal is to elevate the quality and reputation so Malibu Playhouse will be considered as a major player.”
Visit Malibu Playhouse’s Indiegogo site at: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/malibu-playhouse-needs-tlc
