Gordon Durich Westlake Village resident Gordon Durich, who took the reins of the Calabasas Theatre Company in March, is ready to lead the nonprofit performing arts group into its next act.

He said he wants to be sure the up- and- coming company integrates the wishes of local audiences and talent.

The Spotlight the Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes cultural arts in Calabasas, launched the theater company last year to promote visual and performing arts in the city.

Durich, a writer, producer, actor and marketing consultant, has been involved with the performing arts in the Conejo Valley for years.

Most recently he co-produced and performed in “Celeb Reads” at Westlake Village Library. He also appeared in “Quilters,” a musical play, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks and created a humorous play called “Grandmas Rock!”

Durich replaces former artistic director Geoffrey Forward, who resigned in December after staging the radio play “Under Milk Wood” at the Calabasas Civic Center amphitheater.

Four people applied for the volunteer artistic director position at the theater company.

Stephanie Cooper, interim president for Spotlight the Arts, said Durich came highly recommended. “He was praised as a person who can work with tight deadlines and frugal budgets. Another of his colleagues said that he is a good communicator, a problem solver and a team player. He is just the sort of person Spotlight needs,” Cooper said.

Durich said he’s honored to have been selected for the job.

“It was flattering, and they are a very diligent, meticulous, passionate and fun group of people to work with.”

The new artistic director said his goal is to reintroduce theater arts in the community by working with theatrical and musical directors and choreographers to produce regular shows, musicals and concerts.

“We need to make the name Calabasas Theatre Company visible in the community. I’d love to combine professional performers with community members in productions that lend themselves to a true collaborative experience,” said Durich. “But we still need to secure a venue and finalize arrangements with a director, choreographer and music director to proceed.”

To raise funds for Spotlight and the Calabasas Theatre Company, Durich is organizing a concert featuring pianist and composer Aaron Meyer. The event will take place in September at the Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park.

Bradley Bobbs, community liaison and webmaster for Spotlight the Arts, said Durich is a perfect match for the theater company because he has a great attitude, good ideas, enthusiasm and experience.

“He seems like someone that everyone will enjoy working with,” Bobbs said.

Spotlight leaders and volunteers will work with the artistic director to help the company grow.

“We’d like to serve the community and give people what they want. Many would like to attend theater locally, and many people here would like to perform,” Bobbs said.

In the long term, Calabasas Theatre Company may experiment with more adventurous theatrical materials but only if the audience wants it and the company can afford the productions, said Durich, who plans to poll the community to determine what shows they prefer.

“It’s all well and good to present ambitious and new works, but in these challenging economic times especially, people want to be entertained with ‘comfort’ shows,” Durich said.