By Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer | Photos by Viktor Budnik
The tall and stately building on the corner of Main and Laurel streets in Downtown Ventura has been a distinctive landmark since it was built in the 1920s. Originally designed as a church, in 1999 it became the permanent home of Ventura’s first professional theater company: The Rubicon.
In its 25-year history, it has entertained audiences with dramas, comedies, musicals and more, many featuring stars of the stage and screen — including Broadway’s Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson (“Jesus Christ Superstar”), Michael Learned (“The Waltons”), Jeff Kober (“Sons of Anarchy” and “The Walking Dead”) and many more. Of the 170 shows staged in its 180-seat theater, the Rubicon has offered “46 fully produced world premieres and more than 150 staged readings of new works,” said artistic director Karyl Lynn Burns, who co-founded the Rubicon with her husband, James O’Neil.
That’s not to mention the concerts, revues, comedy shows and other live entertainment the theater has offered up between show runs.
The Rubicon has also weathered the many ups and downs of the theater world, including the Thomas Fire that raged just steps away from the building and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the entertainment industry (indoors, at least) for over a year.
Nevertheless, the Rubicon’s shows go on. As it enters its next quarter century, with its “Dare to Dream” Season, it remains committed to “world-class artistry and small-town hospitality,” in the words of Burns. And it is daring to dream not only with the exceptional works it will be bringing to the stage in 2024-25, but in the ambitious plans it has for its renowned educational program.
Lasting Benefits
“Education has been a part of our mission from the beginning,” said Burns, speaking in the Rubicon’s wonderful “Rose Room,” named for longtime supporter Amanda McBroom, who wrote the Golden Globe-winning song “The Rose” for the critical and commercial hit 1979 film of the same name. It’s a fabulous space, with stylishly retro furniture and colorful murals depicting Rubicon actors and luminaries — painted by Ventura’s own Michael O’Kelly.
Rubicon’s first summer camp produced “Once on This Island,” starring a delightful cast of youngsters and run by Burns herself.
“The costumes were tablecloths safety pinned together,” Burns laughed.
But by the second year, Brian McDonald (known for National Tours of “Miss Saigon” and “Forever Plaid”) had come onboard. He’d eventually establish four distinct programs: Stinky Feet Theatre Project (aimed at ages 5-11), Kids Musical Theatre Camp (12-14), Musical Theatre Workshop (15-25) and Fearless Shakespeare Intensive (15-25).
Every summer presents an exciting experience for participants, who work with real professionals in the business on imagery, projection and acting technique. There are also opportunities to be mentored by sound, lighting and other technical experts. At the end, they get to put on a play with full production values.
But, as Burns explained, that’s not the major thrust of the programs. “The real goal is to focus on developing more confidence. [Students] also learn about teamwork and discipline, and have the opportunity to walk in another person’s shoes and gain empathy.
“There’s a lot of divisiveness in the world today…learning to compromise, work as a team and have a common goal…it builds community.”
The current summer education program director is Joseph Fuqua, who has been involved with the Rubicon almost since the beginning: He performed in 2000’s “The Little Foxes,” following that up with roles in “Murder in the First” and “The Glass Menagerie.”
“I started helping Brian McDonald in 2006 with the set for ‘Little Women,’” Fuqua recalled. “We used my grandmother’s antiques! In 2008, Brian asked me to direct a Shakespeare play — we chose ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’”
He echoed Burns in recognizing that “confidence is a huge byproduct of doing theater.”
“That is necessary, I feel, in all aspects of life. Especially as one enters the job market — every employer is impressed with young people who are strong communicators and look one in the eye and are generous of spirit. Theater gives those skills and I am proud to be a part of teaching them.”
One of the biggest challenges Fuqua has faced when working with kids “is mostly getting them enthusiastic about language. Loving to speak it and ignite it with their own passion.” He finds it exceptionally rewarding when that “love for language” finally takes.
He also loves how, over time, a group of summer camp students coalesce into a cast “and make lasting friendships. Theater is a team sport, and everyone belongs that wants it.”
Reaching New ‘Heights’
In 2022, the Rubicon presented Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights,” a vibrant musical about a multicultural neighborhood in New York City.
“It’s so much a play about family and community,” Burns said. She and her team wanted to celebrate that by reaching out to the Ventura County community in a big way.
One thing organizers offered was a free eight-week workshop. Working with the assistant director, the choreographer and Broadway veteran Luis Salgado, participants were taught “the dance and the language of the play.” They learned salsa and hip-hop moves, were taught the audition number, attended a resume workshop and even got free head shots, courtesy of Trinity Wheeler Photography. All were welcome to try out for a part in the production itself…with three performers eventually being cast.
But it was the school outreach effort associated with “In the Heights” that was the real eye-opener.
The Rubicon, like many theater companies, has always worked with local schools to offer student matinees and discounted tickets. But with a venue that accommodates only 180 people, “we’ll only reach a limited number,” Burns explained. “What we learned is that the students coming to the matinees were high achievers…being brought as a reward.”
So, for two weeks, the Rubicon brought (age-appropriate) excerpts from “In the Heights” into Ventura Unified and Oxnard Union high schools during an assembly, accompanied by a Q&A with the cast. Later, the actors broke up into small groups to discuss the play’s themes and issues with students.
“5,200 students were reached with those assemblies,” Burns said.
Marketing Director Tessa Neeley (daughter of Ted Neeley) recalled being moved by how the performance captured teens who moments before were texting friends and playing on their devices.
“Students in the back would put down their phones and really engage,” Neeley said. “And when these students asked questions, they were really deep and thought provoking.”
The Next 25+ Years
As the Rubicon’s 25th anniversary season closes, everyone is getting excited about the theater company’s future. A $1.5 million grant received in 2023 will allow them to make much-need improvements to the beautiful, but aging, building: more accessible to those with mobility issues, costume and set shops, better parking, etc. The theater got its liquor license just a week before the opening of its latest production, “Once,” and has hopes of operating a commercial kitchen.
“The Rose Room will become a cabaret space, with drinks and hors d’oeuvres,” Neeley said. Ideally, the Rose Room would be a place where audience members, actors and directors could intermingle. “Our goal is to turn the Rubicon into a community arts hub.”
And to help put Rubicon on solid footing as it moves forward, the organization will be launching a capital campaign in the coming months.
“We want to make the theater sustainable for the future,” Burns said. “This community that has worked so hard for us deserves to have the Rubicon for the next 25 years or longer.”
The Rubicon Theatre Company
1006 East Main Street, Ventura
805.667.2900
www.rubicontheatre.org
“Dare to Dream”…about Hawaii
Annual subscribers receive a lot of perks: 15% off the regular price of tickets, exclusive discounts, advance notice of special events and more. A variety of seasonal subscriptions (at several different price points) are available now at:
www.rubicontheatre.org/special-packages/season-subscription/
Subscribers are automatically entered to win a six-night stay at a condo in Maui, including round-trip airfare for two from LAX and lunch with a Tony Award-winning producer. (Rules and conditions apply.) Forms must be filled out and returned to the Rubicon Theatre Company no later than Dec. 7, 2024.
All contest details and entry form:
www.rubicontheatre.org/contest/
Rules and conditions:
www.rubicontheatre.org/contestrules/
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