Friday
’s gala grand opening of the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse
ended a two-month citywide celebration surrounding its newly built
Community and Cultural Center campus.
Friday’s gala grand opening of the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse ended a two-month citywide celebration surrounding its newly built Community and Cultural Center campus.
The mayor, most of the City Council, dozens of city staff members and hundreds of Morgan Hillites gathered Friday evening to declare the playhouse finished and the center complete. They were rewarded by an hour-long performance by a sampling of the arts: a song and dance review, a string quartet, a folk music duo, an operatic soprano and ballet.
The opening was planned and executed by Joyce Maskell, Business Assistance and Housing manager and a slew of city staff helpers.
The playhouse, located on the corner of Monterey Road and East Fifth Street, began life in the early 1920s as a Christian Science Church. It was bought from its latest owners, Temple Emmanuel, for $900,000 in 2002 and underwent a complete renovation and addition for an additional $2.5 million.
Deconstruction began in Spring 2002 – for a building of that age requires lavish care and attention, from the roof to the foundation. In fact, it was given an entirely new foundation, having been moved a few feet north from its old site, where the Gavilan College building now sits on the community center campus.
By Friday when the building was given its final touchups, it had expanded from 3,000 square-feet to 7,000 and had dressing rooms, ample new bathrooms and a stage (called a platform for building code purposes) added to the original sanctuary space now filled by audience seating and the lobby.
CONTRACT DETAILS
Because South Valley Civic Theatre is the playhouse’s resident theatrical troupe, SVCT has signed a lease with the City, memorializing the details of its rental agreement for the playhouse.
The lease covers three years from the date SVCT was able to used the playhouse for the first time – which was Saturday, Jan. 25. They will have the playhouse for five productions per year with an average of 10 but no less than seven performance days per production and a total of 50 performance days a year.
There is a maximum of 14 rehearsal days per production, not to exceed 70 rehearsal days per year, plus one day per performance to strike the sets.
The first year, SVCT will pay the city $12,000; the second year, $14,000 and the third year, $16,000.
In addition, if SVCT sells more than 125 seats (there are 187 seats), the company will pay the city $3 per ticket, per performance, up to $1,500 per production.
The city’s finance department will work with SVCT on the method of submitting gate reports.
SVCT will also pay the city 5 percent of the gross sales of all food and beverage concessions. They are not required to share sales of SVCT T-shirts or other items with the city.
SVCT must provide the city with performance dates by a certain date – not yet set – so they can have “first crack” at those dates. All other rentals will wait until SVCT’s schedule is set.
If SVCT needs to use the playhouse more than the amount set in the lease contract “they are welcome to rent it for more days,” said Maskell, who was also production design manager for the playhouse renovation.
The city’s Recreation Department, 782-0008, is handling all rental requests for the playhouse and the community center.
SVCT’s first performance in the new theater will be Friday, Feb. 7 when the curtain rises on “Lend Me a Tenor.”
OPPORTUNITIES
Besides their critical function during performances, the playhouse’s 1920s vintage chairs (from the Campbell High School auditorium) have been put to work to pay for their own restoration and to bring in funds for South Valley Civic Theatre as well. For $300, 187 lucky theater supporters will have their name or their business name engraved on brass plaques attached permanently to the chair’s arms.
Visit www.svct.org or call 842-SHOW for plaques or SVCT tickets. Details on renting the playhouse or community center space, 782-0008 or www.mhcommunitycenter.com
