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# It’s not curtains yet for Santa Monica Playhouse
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/its-not-curtains-yet-for-santa-monica-playhouse/
- Published: 2003-02-04T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T01:29:05.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Downtown, #archive-import

*Theater still raising funds*

*By Daily Press staff*

It appears as if the story of the financially troubled Santa Monica Playhouse will have an encore.

“Friends of Santa Monica Playhouse” announced they have succeeded in raising $200,000 by the mandatory Jan. 31 deadline to satisfy a deal to purchase the theater.

As part of an intensive outreach to the community, coupled with the loyal support of actors, alumni, audiences, the media, and a last-minute plea from Gayle Anderson and KTLA Channel 5, the playhouse won’t have to close its doors and will be able to buy the property on Fourth Street.

After 40 years of being renters at its theater complex in downtown Santa Monica, the internationally acclaimed Playhouse, the oldest continuously producing theater company and conservatory in the city, was given the opportunity of purchasing its facility.

They now have six months remaining in which to raise funds for the down payment. If they cannot meet the deadline, they will be forced to close.

“This $200,000, coupled with the City of Santa Monica’s impressive $75,000 matching grant, means that we are more than halfway there,” said Friends Committee member Carol McCune. “We are immediately moving forward to raise the remaining $225,000 by the end of June.”

It was announced this time last year that the playhouse may have to shut down because its rent would be increased to more than $12,000 a month starting in January, but the venerable theater group can barely pay the $10,000-a-month rent for its prime downtown location.

However, the theater group’s landlord, local attorney Jules Kievits, isn’t viewed as the villain. He is giving the theater group 18 months to raise $500,000 to buy the building. Every six months the group must reach fundraising milestones, or risk losing it all.

After a year of fundraising the group is more than half-way to meeting its goal, theater officials said. Even so, theater officials say they have a tough six months of fundraising ahead of them in order to raise the remaining amount.

“We have been overwhelmed by the amount of love the community has shown for our theater, and grateful to the many donors who have helped us reach this second benchmark,” Playhouse co-artistic director Evelyn Rudie said. “Now that we have passed the mid-point, we are encouraged that corporate, community and foundation donors will come on board, recognizing the project as viable and worthy of their support.”

> “We have been overwhelmed by the amount of love the community has shown for our theater.” — — EVELYN RUDIE Santa Monica Playhouse

Local, national and international artists continue to lend their support to the “Save the Playhouse Campaign.” The Spring Benefit line-up will offer something for everyone, including Don Snell’s Valentine’s Day performance of “A Private Spirit: Noel Coward and his Gal Pals;” Andrew Gaines’ Comedy Playhouse on Feb. 28; Chris Sullivan’s One-Man Irish Show on March 14; Rochelle Newman’s “Hip Bones and Cool Whip” on March 21; and the Playhouse Young Professionals Company musical presentation of “Next! Living the Lie” on March 28.

Santa Monica Playhouse is a not-for-profit educational conservatory and theater that has been serving the greater Los Angeles Area since 1962, directly reaching more than 5 million people, including more than 1 million young people and under-served students. Community members, corporations, private foundations and anyone concerned about helping the Playhouse continue its mission to educate, enlighten and entertain, can make a donation by calling (310) 394-9779, ext. 555.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/020403-01_01.jpg)

met its bench-mark to buy its Fourth Street theater. (Photo: File photo Santa Monica Playhouse)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 4, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/020403.pdf?ref=smdp.com)