The curtain is about to rise on a new theater group in town, the Bus Barn Stage Company. The Los Altos City Council authorized the city manager to complete an agreement with the new group for use of the former Los Altos Conservatory Theater (L'ACT) building at the council's last meeting June 13.
"We're not just extending a hand to ask for money," said Kathy Gutto, newly hired business manager for the Bus Barn Stage Company, at the council meeting. "But we are also offering a hand - to enrich the lives of those within the community."
An 18-member community advisory board is currently in charge of the new group, said Miriam Mazzi, Los Altos recreation supervisor. Board members hope that within a year they will become an official non-profit organization.
"My wife is chair of the advisory committee," said council member David Reeder, "and I don't consider this a conflict of interest."
The advisory committee has a $25,000 start-up grant from the Packard Foundation and has hired Marcia Frederick as artistic director, Mazzi said.
Council members raised concerns about how the new group could be successful when L'ACT folded last December after 17 years.
"What is different now (from L'ACT) is that we have a business manager. This is a partnership," Frederick said, with Gutto and Frederick being co-equal leaders. The advisory group studied 16 successful theater groups. "Theaters with co-equal business and artistic directors do better than those with sole leaders," Frederick said.
Gutto has been president of the board of directors of the Santa Clara Players. She earned a master's degree in arts management from San Jose State University.
Frederick spent six years as resident costume designer at San Jose Rep and five years as executive director of the Performing Arts Alliance Festival at Foothill college, a group of 16 peninsula performing arts groups.
"I consider live theater in Los Altos a cultural assest and part of what makes Los Altos a desirable place to live," said council member Ted Laliotis. "But I'm uncomfortable with how fast it (Bus Barn organizing) is moving. I would like more time to communicate with the residents to build even more support," he said.
Mayor Bob Gray worried about how long the city might be asked to support the group.
"I want to know where the off-ramps are," Gray said.