Douglas Theatre’s design, construction schedule emerge

Construction is expected to begin within the next month on the 320-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre, the Culver City wing of the Center Theatre Group.

Architect Steven Ehrlich’s design calls for a $10.9-million renovation of the facility, which will be carved out of a former movie theater built in 1947 at 9820 Washington Blvd. The theater will be used primarily for play development and youth-oriented programs, supplementing Center Theatre Group’s main-stage programming at the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre in downtown L.A.

Center Theatre Group is trying to raise $20 million -- of which more than $12 million already has been raised, beginning with the naming donation of $2.5 million from Kirk and Anne Douglas. The additional money, beyond the cost of the theater, will be used to enhance the $30-million Center Theatre Group endowment, as well as about $1 million in fund-raising costs, said artistic director/producer Gordon Davidson. “It’s a tricky time to open a new theater,” Davidson said. The extra money “will help ensure the baseline operation of that theater.”

The Douglas stage will be in an “end-stage” configuration -- the 320 fixed seats will face the stage with no proscenium framing the onstage action. Most of the seats will be on risers, but 32 will be in a higher gallery around the main seating area, and directors may choose to use onstage seating as well.

Initial plans called for a 100-seat theater space in the old movie theater’s balcony area, but those plans were dropped last year because of the cost of necessary structural changes. Center Theatre Group began producing small-scale developmental work in the nearby 99-seat Ivy Substation.

The balcony area still will be used for rehearsals, workshops and educational events, and Davidson said he hopes the company will continue to use the Ivy at least during the first season at the Douglas in 2004-05. Eventually, land adjacent to the theater on the east may be developed as a studio space and cafe.