Shakespeare by the Sea, Little Fish Theatre and State of the Art report to commission on summer season and venue updates

Several arts organizations briefed the Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Advisory Commission on June 3 about upcoming seasons, venue changes and a post-event summary.

Shakespeare by the Sea representatives Dency Nelson and Stephanie Coltrane said the company will present two productions in Hermosa Beach on July 9–10: As You Like It (a comedy) and Julius Caesar (a drama). The presenters said Hermosa Beach is one of the company's stops in a 27-performance regional tour and that Hermosa is the first of the company's 19 locations to be fully funded locally; they told the commission each Hermosa performance costs about $12,631 to stage. The presenters cited prior attendance: 525 and 770 on two nights in 2023 and lower turnout in 2024 when nearby Redondo Beach added two venues.

Little Fish Theatre reported it will re-open with a short-play festival, Pick of the Vine, on Aug. 13 in a temporary Redondo Beach space provided by Beach City's Health District. The Little Fish representative said the new location required permitting and an entertainment permit from Redondo Beach; the company will limit audience size at that site to roughly 45–60 people depending on cast and staff, and the hospital building on that campus is slated to be demolished in early 2027, meaning the company expects to look for a new permanent home in the coming years.

Rafael McMaster delivered a post-event presentation for State of the Art, a fundraiser that supports local youth arts activities. McMaster said the event drew about 420 people and included about 95 volunteers, many of them teenagers. He described the operation as volunteer-driven and noted the nonprofit’s reliance on the event for annual funding; staff clarified that as a nonprofit, the post-event processing fee is $2 per paid registrant. Commissioners praised the groups for contributions to the arts and youth engagement.

Details reported to the commission: Shakespeare by the Sea performances July 9–10; Hermosa per-performance cost cited at $12,631; Little Fish Theatre reopening Aug. 13 with limited audience capacity in a temporary Redondo site; State of the Art reported about 420 attendees and 95 volunteers and a nonprofit post-event fee of $2 per paid registrant.