Rushing the Stage

The press release didn’t really prepare visitors for the current state of North Hollywood’s El Portal Center.

The release promised that the former movie palace, soon to be a full-fledged arts center in the heart of the NoHo Arts District, was “entering the final countdown” toward opening.

Not so fast.

In its present state, the theater at 5269 Lankershim Blvd. is a cavernous empty space. According to Robert E. Caine, managing director of Actors Alley, the nonprofit organization that will operate El Portal, the renovation should be completed in time for an October opening.

“That should be doable for us,” the Valley businessman and arts patron said.

But media and celebrity guests at a recent news conference had to walk a plank over a gaping hole to enter the area that will eventually house the 390-seat Pavilion Theatre at the heart of the complex.

Designed by Pasadena architect Richard F. McCann, the El Portal Center will also feature a 99-seat theater, an art gallery, a small museum devoted to the Depression-era WPA Theater Project and other amenities. A 49-seat storefront theater is already in use in a finished area of the complex, which houses the Actors Alley theater company.

When El Portal does reopen, it is expected to be another cultural leap forward for the Valley. In December, the Madrid Theatre--a 499-seat theater and arts complex--opened on a site in Canoga Park previously occupied by an X-rated movie house.

Like El Portal, the Madrid project was proposed by local arts lovers who saw an opportunity to enrich Valley life in the wake of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

The fact that El Portal is still a fixer didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of supporters, who hope the refurbished 73-year-old theater will spur continued revitalization of surrounding NoHo as well as add a mid-size Equity contract venue to the Valley--for the first time in more than 20 years.

Two dozen stars of varying wattage were on hand for the preview last week, at which reporters were offered box lunches and plastic hard hats as well as tours.

“I think it’s delicious,” said Tony- and four-time Emmy winner Tyne Daly, who was one of the first members of the troupe that evolved into Actors Alley.

“I have high hopes. I hope that they will utilize this space, which is beautiful, and I hope that they will utilize the community, which is right outside the door.”

The celebrities had been asked to sign bricks that will be part of the NoHo-El Portal Alleywalk--a kind of NoHo Walk of Fame--located in the refurbished theater’s inner lobby.

Actor Robert Morse, who won Tonys for “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Tru,” said, apropos of signing his brick, “I have had many thrown at me.”

“In Dallas,” he added, “I think I have a floorboard.”

Asked why the Valley theater scene has never accurately reflected the size and quality of its community of actors, Jeremiah Morris, artistic director of Actors Alley, said, “It will always be a movie and television town as long as you can’t earn a living in theater here.”

Morris said his hope for El Portal is “to put bottoms in seats.” In terms of programming, he said he wants “to do all types of plays, all the way from the Greeks to Mamet, and burlesque in between.”

Actors Alley officials also announced that the first play in the 99-seat Circle Forum theater will be Chekhov’s “The Three Sisters.”

It will be followed by the world premiere of Charles Higham’s “Murder by Moonlight” and the theatrical premiere of Dan Gordon’s “Murder in the First.”

No schedule was announced for the larger theater.

According to Caine, the renovated El Portal will be home to educational programs, the Lula Washington Dance Company, the East L.A. Classic Players and other programs.

“It will be more than a performance space for Actors Alley,” he said.

He said the complex was not closer to completion because much of the more than $4 million required for the project had only recently been made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A protracted FEMA audit delayed the release of the funds.

But now the critical foundation and structural work are largely finished, Caine said, and the rebirth of El Portal is in sight. Actors Alley continues to raise money for work not funded by FEMA.

Actress JoAnne Worley, who lives in Toluca Lake, said the new theater complex “is extremely important because I hate to drive on the freeways.”

Worley also revealed that, when she moved to Toluca Lake and across the street from comedian Bob Hope, “He said to come over and borrow a cup of money.”

More seriously, Worley said, “I think it’s very important for our souls to have live theater.”

Mariette Hartley joked with fellow actors at the El Portal event: “I see us all now on TNT.”

She also expressed the view of many gathered there when she said, “For us, not to have a large theater in any part of the Valley is a crime. We have so many wonderful actors here.”

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El Portal Renovation

When the historic El Portal Center in North Hollywood reopens in October after an extensiverenovation, the landmark structure will be home to three new performance spaces, an art gallery, and other facilities.

The 73-year-old former movie palace was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Its rebirth as a cultural center is the latest addition to the fledgling NoHo Arts District.

Storefront Theatre (49 seats)

Federal Theatre Project (museum and exhibit space)

Pavillion Theatre (390-seat meeting assembly and performance space)

Circle Forum (99 seats)

Art Gallery

Exhibit Salon

*

OPENING DATE: October, 1999

ARCHITECT: Pasadena architect Richard I McCann

COST: More than $4 million

OPERATOR: Actors Alley, a nonprofit organization

*Source: Actors Alley