By Daily Press staff
In the works for years, the multi-million dollar performing arts center now called the Performing Arts Center and Music Academy — formerly known as the Madison Theater — has reached its midpoint in construction.
Friends of the Performing Arts Center and Music Academy (PACMA) of Santa Monica College gathered June 9 at a Santa Monica hotel to celebrate the midpoint of construction of the much-anticipated project. Featuring a luncheon, as well as a performance by child piano prodigy Marc Yu, recently seen on Oprah, the event at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel drew a crowd of about 70.Also attending was Eric Owens, star of the Los Angeles Opera production of “Grendel,” which opened this month.
Others joining in the festivities, who were greeted by SMC President Dr. Chui L. Tsang, were Malibu Mayor Andy Stern; Misti Kerns and Tim Kittleson of the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau; Barbara Stinchfield, Santa Monica city cultural and community affairs director; and several prominent supporters, including celebrity dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban, Emmy Award-winning comedy writer Marc Flanagan, and visual artist-writer Jenny Okun.
Loews hosted and underwrote the event, and hotel officials announced they have adopted PACMA as part of its “good neighbor program.”
“We have a strong commitment to furthering the arts within our community, and PACMA is an exciting addition to the Santa Monica theater scene,” said John Thacker, Loew’s general manager.
The facility, formerly called The Madison Project, is a 541-seat performing arts hall and music academy currently under construction at SMC’s Madison campus on Santa Monica Boulevard at 11th Street.
“We are so happy to be nearing the completion of the facility, which will be a truly unique arts and education center,” PACMA Director Dale Franzen said. “We’re planning some incredibly exciting programs at the center.”
Franzen thanked all who have been instrumental in providing contributions and support for the project, which is scheduled to be completed in fall of 2007. She said that the first season in the new theater is expected to be announced in early 2007.
“I have inherited this wonderful project, a center that is so needed by the community,” said Tsang, who has been in the SMC chief executive position nearly four months.
The theater will feature both student work and professional engagements in music, theater, dance and more. The Madison complex also will house SMC’s music department and is the site of SMC’s Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery.
The center, designed by Zecchetto Architects of Santa Monica, is funded with a combination of public and private funds.
PACMA is an arts education and community outreach organization that designs unique and innovative arts education programs for children and adults.
It was also announced that PACMA plans a season of free concerts and events throughout the Westside, called The Madison Performance Series.
For more information, go to http://www.smc.edu/madison or call (310) 434-3430. Tree dedicated to Lopez
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 15, 2006. Read the original PDF.