The Present and Future of Warner Grand Theatre

April 21, 2010 - PRLog -- The Relevant Stage – San Pedro’s Musical Theatre Company in residence at Warner Grand Theatre, announces its intention to apply for operational control of Warner Grand Theatre when the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs releases its Request for Proposals.

TRS has the intention and desire to maintain the community programming that currently exists at Warner Grand Theatre and expand its programming through active marketing to outside producers.

San Pedro is on the rise.  Every day one of the last frontiers of the City of Los Angeles is surprising people who have never been before.  Where the 110 South meets the ocean, you will find the Port Town of Los Angeles - San Pedro, and an amazing amount of culture and cuisine in a burgeoning, artistic and eclectic downtown area that is reminiscent of early Pasadena mixed with a little Venice Beach.  

Dine at Whale & Ale, 7th Street Chop House, Niko’s Pizzeria, San Pedro Brewing Company or dozens of other fine restaurants.  Shop for Pinot at Off The Vine, or take in an exhibit at Warschaw or Parkhurst Galleries; visit the oldest bookstore in LA, Williams Book Store – open for over 100 years; learn to Samba or Zumba at People’s Yoga Health & Dance, get a refreshing iced latte at Sacred Grounds Cafe – and don’t forget to check out the area’s entertainment.

San Pedro is home to professional theatre companies, a pops orchestra, a ballet company, film festivals and intimate bands – all of whom occasionally perform at one magical venue:  Warner Grand Theatre.

The Warner Grand Theatre is an historic movie palace which was opened on January 20, 1931. It is located in San Pedro, California, at 478 West 6th Street in the United States of America.

The design of the Warner Grand Theatre was a joint effort by architect B. Marcus Priteca and interior designer Anthony Heinsbergen. It was one of three similarly lavish Los Angeles area art-deco movie palaces on which Priteca and Heinsbergen collaborated for the Warner Bros. company in the early 1930s. The others were located in Beverly Hills, and Huntington Park. Priteca later designed Hollywood's famous Pantages Theatre.
The Warner Beverly Hills Theatre has been demolished, and the Huntington Park Warner, closed for many years, has been extensively altered, leaving the Grand as the last of the three original theaters remaining intact. By the mid 1990's it had suffered a lengthy period of neglect, despite having been declared a historical and cultural monument of the city in 1982.

The theater was facing possible demolition or re-development when, in 1995, the theater was purchased by the Cultural Affairs Department (later renamed the Department of Cultural affairs) of the City of Los Angeles in 1996. In 1999, the Warner was added to the National Register of Historic Places as building #98001633.

Restored and beautiful, in 2007 Warner Grand Theatre became the home of The Relevant Stage (TRS) – San Pedro’s Musical Theatre Company, founded by current Artistic Producing Director, Ray Buffer.  TRS programs nearly 50% of all events at Warner Grand Theatre – including a series of $3 films called Warner On Wednesdays; comedy events, under the name San Pedro BrewHaHa ;  a 4-week tuition based Summer Camp for teens to learn skills in the performing arts, called TRS Youthorizons; in addition to producing high quality live theatre.

Recently the City of Los Angeles announced its intention to outsource operational and programming control of Warner Grand Theatre to a qualified applicant.  The RFQ process has not yet begun, but when it does, TRS intends to submit for consideration.  In the interim, operations continue under the control of The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and volunteers.  The City has however, made it clear that they will not allow the theatre to go dark while a permanent operator is identified and has continued to staff the theatre.  

Having recently completed critically acclaimed performances of the hilarious musical revue, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in San Pedro, and Fullerton, TRS is now in rehearsal for the infectious musical comedy “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” opening June 11th for a two weekend run.  TRS will first show the film with Michael Caine and Steve Martin to audiences for just $3, and then follow the screening a week later with the live performances of the Broadway musical that it inspired.  

In July, TRS will perform a staged reading of a brand new opera/musical, titled “The One & Only”, which is loosely based on Homer’s “Odyssey” and Euripede’s “Polyphenus” and is written by Ray Buffer & Robert Gross.  It will be offered free to the public on July 1.  

In August TRS brings the feel-good, return to 1950’s and 1960’s pop music, “Forever Plaid” to the Warner stage for three amazing weekends.  

In September, TRS will merge fact and fiction for one weekend, with a return to 1940’s San Pedro in “6th Street Burlesque”.  

November brings “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” to the screen and then the stage as the MGM classic film is shown to audiences for just $3, and then offered live on stage the following week for two weekends.  

In December, TRS again offers its traditional telling of Dickens’ classic set to period carols, The Christmas Carol in the days preceding and immediately following Christmas.

In 2011 TRS Plans to offer: “Kiss Me Kate” starring Kristin Towers-Rowles performing the role made famous by her late grandmother, Kathryn Grayson.

Other fully staged Broadway musical shows planned for San Pedro in 2011 include, “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Chorus Line,” “Hairspray,” and “Cats”.

One of the Warner Brothers - Jack Warner, called Warner Grand Theatre "The Castle of Your Dreams."   Find out why by coming to downtown San Pedro and into the theater!  

Learn more at www.therelevantstage.com.

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The Relevant Stage Theatre Company performs in residence at The Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, CA. TRS' mission is to challenge hearts, engage minds and expose truths through musical theatre.