Drama Queen of the Campus

By Ann K. Williams
Staff Writer

September 29 -- Red lace and rhinestones, a sparkly wand and pink hair graced some of the performance students who cheered as the red ribbon was cut for Santa Monica College’s new theatre arts building, which adds its own dramatic architectural presence to the campus entrance.

A plunging and soaring metal roof slicing the sky in a bright red gesture defines the idiosyncratic structure, which will become a key element in the soon-to-be completed main quad area.

Although students have been rehearsing their lines in the new home of the Theatre Arts Department since August, Wednesday was the official opening of the 20,000-square-foot, $17 million teaching and performance center.

The facility is the final product of more than six years of dreaming and planning, said Pervis Sawoski, chair of the department that’s counted the likes of Dustin Hoffman, James Dean, Titanic’s Gloria Stuart and Doug McClure among its alumni.

(l-r) Perviz Sawoski, chair SMC theatre arts; Brian Arthur, VP, Turner Construction; Brian Kite, principal in charge, Leo A. Daly Architects; Dorothy Earhart-Morrison, SMC trustee and SMC president Dr. Chui L. Tsang Photo courtesy of Santa Monica College)

“It’s been a really, really long journey to get here,” Sawoski told the well-wishers who’d gathered for the opening.

“Today just marks the beginning of a very long journey,” College President Chui L. Tsang extended Sawoski’s metaphor, remarking on the classes and the productions the building will house.

“We hope many of you will take advantage of the facility that we have built for the college and the community,” Tsang said.

“We’re excited about filling this facility with outstanding plays, beginning with Evita in October,” said Sawoski.

Stage Tech students worked alongside professionals, getting the main stage ready as drama teacher Terrin Adair led the building’s first audience into the 264-seat theater, complete with orchestra pit, a “full fly loft” where set elements can literally fly from the peaked ceiling, and advanced lighting and sound systems.

New theatre arts building (Photo by Ann K. Williams)

Best of all, the steeply sloped seating is staggered, so that every member of the audience will have a clear view of the stage.

“I’ve come close to strangling people,” confided an enthusiastic Terrin Adair, one of the department’s teachers. “Here you have the luxury of not having to look at the back of anyone’s head.”

Instead, theatergoers will be able to see Evita, Amadeus, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Rumors, and the Kiss of the Spider Woman during the 2006-2007 season. General admission tickets will be $20 for musicals and $15 for plays, and parking will be free during the performances.

For more information about the performances, or about donating to the award-winning department’s endowment fund, call (310) 434-4393.