City Garage in talks for new space in Santa Monica

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City Garage, the small but venerable Santa Monica theater company, has been looking for a new space to call home since announcing earlier this season that it would be vacating its current 50-seat house at the end of 2010.

The theater company, which has resided at its location in an alley just off the Third Street Promenade for more than 15 years, is in talks for a new space in Santa Monica, according to artistic director Frédérique Michel. She declined to provide more details until the deal is finalized, which could happen in November.

‘It would be a dream situation if it comes together,’ said Michel, adding that ‘nothing is certain’ at this point. She said the company had been looking at a variety of spaces in the past few months. One of the spaces was the Broad Stage, but Michel said it wasn’t adequately equipped to meet the needs of a resident theater company.

City Garage is vacating its current spot because of a complicated situation with the two landlords who own the property, according to Michel. She said that one of the landlords ‘is OK with us staying,’ while the other has presented obstacles that would make it impossible to remain.

The company is set to move from its home after its current production of ‘Paradise Park,’ by Charles L. Mee, ends in November.

City Garage has a built a reputation for mounting high-quality productions of classic plays as well as cutting-edge dramas by well-known playwrights. Over the years, the company has staged works by Eugene Ionesco, Heiner Müller, Caryl Churchill and Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

The company’s current location was used by local officials and police during the first half of the 20th century. The company moved in at the end of 1994 and renovated the space.

Michel said City Garage plans to mount a new play by managing director Charles Duncombe after the company moves.

-- David Ng

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