Calabasas deserves a performing
arts theater

The Calabasas City Council is currently grappling with the question of whether or not to include a small performing arts theatre in their plan for a new civic center complex adjacent to The Commons. A big unanswered question, and point of departure for some councilmembers, seems to be that without any substantiated proof of need, how do we know such a facility will be sufficiently used?

Let us ask the bigger question. Do the residents of Calabasas support the visual and performing arts? A similar dilemma occurred when the question of support for movie theaters in Calabasas first came up 10 years ago. Lo and behold, the Calabasas Grand Palace turns out to be the most profitable theatre in the Edwards chain. With all the film and television people in this town, who’d have ever thunk it?

Without question the answer is, yes, Calabasans do support the arts.

In the Civic Center plan, if the council is prepared to invest in a 25,000 square-foot city hall and a 23,000 square-foot library, it only makes sense that a well-equipped, 250-seat performing arts theatre should be included in the Civic Center building program. If this is to be a true place for the people, then both literature and the performing arts must be available, for it is both that represent who we are as a society and a civilization.

Providing only half would be a mistake.

Build it and they will come.

Toby Keeler

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