Amador Theater to Reopen in January; Civic Arts Presents Season Highlights

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Pleasanton's Amador Theater, which hosts the city's Civic Arts Presents entertainment program, will reopen in mid to late January after undergoing a renovation that began in September. The theater received an enhanced stage and house lighting system as well as other improvements.

The Amador Theater has served as the city's principal performing arts facility for over 60 years. It was constructed in the late 1930s as part of the Amador Valley High School campus. But since the last renovation in the mid-1980s, the lighting system for stage reached the end of its life cycle and needed replacing.

"The lighting system was limited and old fashioned," explains Civic Arts Manager Andy Jorgensen. "We thought it best to be proactive and improve the lighting system now, rather than wait for it to go out in the middle of a performance. The theater is going to be around a long time so it is worth the investment."

Theater Supervisor Rob Vogt adds that the new lighting system will greatly improve the quality of performances. "The new system allows us to easily achieve a more complex lighting design, doubling our capacity for house and stage lighting. Performers will really notice a difference."

Vogt noted that in addition to the new lights, the 591-seat theater would get new carpet and paint for a fresh look, an improved acoustical band shell, and new choral risers. New glass double doors at the entrance will give the theater a modern appeal.

Jorgensen explains that even though Pleasanton plans to build the Firehouse Arts Center downtown within the next few years, the renovation of the Amador Theater has a larger strategic purpose. Says Jorgensen, "The Firehouse will complement Amador, but will be a smaller, intimate theater with 240 seats. Amador is a larger venue, giving us the flexibility to do our regular Civic Arts Presents series which hosts popular mid-tier performers such as George Winston, Judy Collins, and the Four Freshman, while continuing to offer programs such as the School Concert Series for groups from area schools.

The Civic Arts Presents season reopens the theater January 26, with Jim Gamble's Puppets performing Peter & the Wolf. Other season highlights include saxophonist and composer Ravi Coltrane, son of renowned artists John and Alice Coltrane, February 28; the Civic Arts Stage Company production of the beloved classic The Boxcar Children, beginning April 18; and the season finale A Day in His Life, a tribute to rock-legend John Lennon, May 31.

New this season is Parent's Night Out, when children in grades 1-5 are invited to the Amador Recreation Center for an evening of drama, comedy, fun and games, no performing required, all while their parents are enjoying adult comedy shows by The Second City (February 2nd) and Best of San Francisco Comedy Competition (March 1st) just around the corner at the Amador Theater.

Tickets for Amador Theater productions are available online beginning December 17 at www.civicartstickets.org. The theater box office will open January 9 for telephone orders (925) 931-3444 and walk-up tickets sales from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Friday. For more information about the Civic Arts Presents season, visit www.civicartstickets.org.

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