Gene Franklin Smith resigned as the Malibu Playhouse’s artistic director on Sunday after holding the job for 18 months, citing wishes to pursue other theater projects.
Smith was named artistic director in March 2013, and under his stewardship the Playhouse’s 2013-14 season presented “The Dream of the Burning Boy,” “Belfry,” “The Vortex” and “Flim Flam – Houdini and the Hereafter.” Smith wrote the latter play and the performance at the Playhouse was its world premiere. The season was marked by a number of sold-out performances and patrons both from inside and outside of Malibu.
Smith, a veteran director, playwright and producer, said he was “thankful and honored the Malibu Playhouse granted me this wonderful opportunity and I will continue to support Malibu Playhouse’s future endeavors.
“Over the course of this last season the Playhouse received praise for being one of the best ninety-nine seat theaters in the Los Angeles area, both artistically and because of its excellent physical facility,” he added. “I take great pride in the 18 months I was its artistic director. Everyone at the Playhouse contributed to creating a beautiful performing arts center for Malibu to enjoy for years to come.”
During Smith’s tenure in the non-paying job, the Playhouse built a new lighting and sound booth and renovated the lobby, stage and dressing rooms. He expanded the Playhouse’s educational outreach programs, instituting a play reading series for new plays and musicals and theater classes for young adults. In conjunction with Rick D. Wasserman, the Malibu Playhouse Performing Arts Conservatory was formed, which offers such classes as scene study, improv, acting for the camera and playwriting, as well as private coaching.
Before working in Malibu, Smith made his name known in the theater world, having a number of his plays produced in New York and L.A. He also founded the Write Act Repertory Company and the Troubled Souls. Most recently, he oversaw productions at the Matrix Theatre in L.A.
Andi Howard Ringe, chair of the Playhouse’s Board of Directors, said she was disappointed that Smith had resigned.
“We were blessed that we were able to have Gene with us for at least one season and we intend to keep the momentum going and continue to bring great theater to Malibu,” Ringe said.
She expects the 2014-15 season to begin in October and consist of three or four plays. The Board is reviewing a number of possibilities, but a new artistic director to replace Smith has not been chosen.
Howard acknowledged that first-class productions cannot be mounted in a 99-seat equity waiver theater such as the Malibu Playhouse, supported by ticket sales alone. Community support is essential for the Playhouse and to that end she said several fundraising events are being planned.
The Malibu Playhouse was founded by famed theater director and playwright Charles Marowitz and Jacqueline Bridgeman in 1990 with performances beginning at the Smothers Theater at Pepperdine University. At the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Playhouse took up residence in its present site, formerly the Shepherd-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church, which was converted into a fully equipped, state of the art, 99-seat theater. Marowitz was artistic director until 2002 when he was ousted by the board over creative differences. Subsequent directors, in addition to Smith, were Christopher Hart, Oren Safdie and Richard Johnson.