Costa Mesa Playhouse seeks city help after school-district lease termination; board urges joint-use options

Costa Mesa — The Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse told the City Council on May 6 that the Newport-Mesa Unified School District will terminate its lease at Ray Elementary School one year early, on June 29, 2025, leaving the volunteer-run theater roughly three months to vacate.

Peter Crater, identified in public comment as the Playhouse’s artistic director, said the Playhouse has been a cultural institution since 1965 and operated at Ray Elementary under a low-cost lease for about 40 years. He said the organization has no paid staff and that the short notice would “effectively be a death sentence” for the theater unless the Playhouse secures alternative space or a joint-use agreement.

Crater asked city officials to contact the school district about a joint-use agreement at the Estancia High School theater complex and to meet with the Playhouse board to explore other city-supported options. Council members and staff replied that they would look for possible solutions; Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez said he would be willing to help and noted the Playhouse is in his district.

Why it matters: The Playhouse produces community theater, children's programming and local arts events; board members say it is the city’s last community theater and relies on donated space and volunteer labor. Losing the existing facility could end years of local arts programming.

Next steps: Council members expressed sympathy and requested staff follow up with the Playhouse and school district. No formal council action or funding commitment was announced during the meeting.

Public record: Crater said production rights for the Playhouse’s 60th season have been secured but that the organization lacks time and funds to relocate if the lease termination stands.