By Roma Chang / Hoodline – Fox5SanDiego / December 21, 2023
It’s lights out for the Ocean Beach Playhouse. The cherished San Diego theater is taking its final bow this Saturday, Dec. 23, after seven years of operation. Citing crushing rent hikes, owners Bill and Jennie Connard have to wave goodbye to their dual-concept space, which houses both OB eBikes and the intimate 50-seat stage.
[Editordude: See these recent Rag posts on the end of the OB Playhouse – here and here.]
In a city where gentrification is as common as the sunny days, small business owners are finding to barely keep up with the deep-pocketed retail chains. “The rent just too high for what we’re doing and way too high for a community theater,” the Connards told FOX 5 San Diego.
As the community bids farewell, the Playhouse is adamant to quickly go out with a bang.
An industry night performance of “Rent” is geared to be a congregation for the artists and audience members who’ve graced the venue over the years. The Playhouse is throwing open its doors one last time for a show that doubles as a testimonial to their resilience.
Per the OB Playhouse & Theatre Company’s Facebook account, tickets are pegged at $20, with a special discount for the code “2DAY4U.” They’ve also got a plan to wrap up the show:
“We also want to do a group ‘Seasons of Love’ Encore at the end of the show with anyone who is there tonight who has ever performed at the playhouse!” encouraged the company in their Facebook post.
While the curtains may be closing, the company continues seeking a new home, hoping for a future act. Wildsong Productions isn’t ready to abandon their creative endeavors just yet. They are actively searching for a new stage to engage their audience, but funding, in a landscape already crowded with commercial juggernauts, could prove to be their hardest act to follow. The show must go on, they say, but where it will isn’t clear at the moment. For now, they’re focused on giving the Ocean Beach Playhouse the send-off it deserves, one where the past performers touch the stage once more to serenade the space with love.
Frank,
Maybe I don’t understand the nuances of reporting but I keep seeing articles of businesses and other entities like the theater troop being displaced because of high rent/ large rent increases. Why don’t we identify the landlords and provide some transparency as to who these folks are? Is it not public knowledge? Might be time discuss the worth of losing a valued service vs their profit margin. Prices are certainly going up but it seems there may be some who are requesting a bit more than to keep up with inflation and a bit of profit.
Far be it for me to tell people how to manage their properties or businesses. I am sure many or most landlords do take a smaller profit for good clients and causes but it just seems like there may be some who may not even live in our community, nor care what kind of community we have who and have different motives based on the caliber and value of some who have been forced to move because of rent increases.
CBS8 reports: “Dozens packed into the Ocean Beach Playhouse for what may have been the final performance at the San Diego theater. A rent dispute has made operations at the location unaffordable. However, there is still a slim chance the show will go on thanks to the community support.
“The idea that everything could potentially end tonight is really heartbreaking,” Sarah Hayes said, who’s on the Wildsong Productions Board of Directors.
“Going into closing night of the show is always bittersweet,” said production manager Jillian Anderson.
“It really made me sad because places like this are closing. It’s so tiny and they do an amazing job, I’ve never seen a show that wasn’t incredible here,” said attendee Barney McComas.
Wildsong Productions, the team that works to put the shows together, says they are being pushed out of the theater because of skyrocketing rent prices. “Unfortunately, commercial rent is very expensive in San Diego right now,” said Hayes.
“Rent itself focuses so much on community and people just trying to create art when it’s really difficult you know and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do here, and art in Southern California it’s so expensive but we’re doing our best and we’re going to keep going,” said Kannon Gowen, technical director of the company.
Since announcing what could be their final show, Gowen says the community has rallied behind them keeping the possibility of staying in Ocean Beach alive.
“The good news is the landlords have heard the community’s response to our campaign and a lot of the new spots so we are in negotiations with them to try to figure out a deal to make it work. We’ve submitted a counter offer, hopefully they except but it sounds like there’s a really really good chance that we’re gonna be able to stay,” said Gowen.
The community has helped raised over $10,000 to keep the doors open so far.
“It’s a really incredible feeling to have the community support us in such a great way. As a nonprofit we try our best to put out some good work,” said Gowan.
“It means the world honestly like I said we can’t do what we do without them,” added Hayes.
The crew tells me no matter what happens, they’re thankful for community support” CBS8
WOW great news for the Playhouse! https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/ocean-beach-playhouse-stays-open-thanks-to-community-support