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Costa Mesa Playhouse says district is terminating lease; commissioners offer help
Summary
Board members of the Costa Mesa Playhouse told the Arts Commission the community theater’s lease will be terminated June 29, 2025, and asked the commission to help find a new home. Commissioners and staff said they will assist and explore city-owned space and council-level advocacy.
The Costa Mesa Playhouse told the Arts Commission on May 1 that the theater’s long-running lease with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District will be terminated this summer, and the Playhouse asked the commission to help find a new space.
Angel Korea, a board member of the Costa Mesa Playhouse, said the group has leased a theater building from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District since 1984 and that in mid-April the district informed the Playhouse that “our lease agreement was being terminated on June 29th of this year even though we expected the lease to go through summer of 2026.” She said the Playhouse was in talks with the school district about alternative space but that “nothing really has been set in stone.”
The Playhouse asked the commission to assist with outreach to council members and other city officials to keep the “last community theater alive” in Costa Mesa. “We are devastated by our current situation and would appreciate any assistance that any of you can provide us,” Korea said.
Why it matters: Commissioners and several public speakers framed the Playhouse’s loss of space as urgent because the Playhouse is preparing to mark its 60th anniversary and because suitable performance venues on the city’s West Side are limited. Commissioners discussed both immediate help — advising the Playhouse on contacts with the school district — and longer-term options, including whether city-owned facilities could be offered.
Commissioner Charlene Ashendorf thanked Playhouse representatives and urged commissioners to “please to read the article in the Daily Pilot and get engaged to try to support the efforts of the Costa Mesa Playhouse so that they can continue in our city and celebrate their sixtieth anniversary.” Commissioner Lucia said she hoped the district would provide an alternative location and offered to lend ideas and support.
Vice Chair Derderian asked staff to agendize a presentation by the Playhouse at the next Arts Commission meeting so the commission could hear details in a longer format and consider whether to recommend that the city lease or otherwise make city‑owned space available to the group. Arts staff said they have reached out to the district and will provide an update to the commission when more information is available.
Other community organizations and residents — including Backhouse Dance’s education director Nancy Wasser Brady and other commenters — urged the commission to increase visibility for arts organizations and to consider equity across disciplines and organization sizes when distributing grants or prioritizing facilities.
Ending: Commissioners and staff asked Playhouse representatives to continue negotiations with the school district while the commission pursues options for city support and possible presentations at upcoming meetings. Staff said it would provide updates on school‑district conversations and any city‑owned facility possibilities.
