Whatever happened to 'community' theater?
When the city purchased the Theatre on High Street from Larry Janss a couple of years back, who was it that de cided it was going to be an "arts center" instead of a community theater? Shouldn't a theater, purchased with city monies from a tax-supported redevelopment agency, be serving Moorpark's arts patrons alongside students, schools, clubs, service organizations, cinema buffs and young filmmakers?

Currently, the High Street Arts Center only presents four or five plays a year. Why only plays? Why no concerts, films, dance recitals or a speaker's series?

A theater makes no money when it's "dark" (closed). Successful arts centers, such as those in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, are constantly booked with everything from concerts to amateur theater to children's programming to professional touring companies. Our local arts center can start paying its way by offering a wide variety of shows to draw in different audiences.

And why do the doors seem to be closed to local folk? Why not allow residents to produce their own shows, such as the hugely popular melodramas or newer plays from off-Broadway or even plays written by local scribes? Are we saying that "art" only belongs in the hands of professionals?

Some venues, such as the Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles, rent their facility for special events. Not only does this bring in revenue, but also builds good will among residents.

Are these issues a monetary concern? Does theater manager L.J. Stevens have the necessary funding available to make a go of this project?

Why doesn't the concession stand sell more than soda and candy? Can't the city augment Stevens' budget to properly feed hungry patrons with such goodies as adult beverages or cheesecake?

Why aren't the students from our area schools involved? Students at the local high school work together better than this to produce their shows. Why can't our city politicians take a lesson from those teens?

It's time for the leaders in Moorpark to begin working together as a team to create a community theater for our city's common good.