The State Playhouse reopened with an elegant evening event celebrating the historic building and its role in providing arts and culture to Cal State LA and the communities it serves.
The Ahmanson Foundation provided a gift that enabled the University to revitalize the State Playhouse with new seating, floor finishes and paint, as well as the latest audio, video and lighting equipment.
The gift, part of We Are LA: The Campaign for Cal State LA, will help the University promote a robust learning environment for students in the performing arts. Built in 1958, the State Playhouse is one of the oldest buildings at Cal State LA.
Each year more than 25,000 students and community residents enjoy art and performances in the theater. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters who attended the celebration enjoyed remarks by University leaders and performances by students in a jazz combo led by Grammy Award-winning faculty member James Ford.
“Through the incredible generosity of the Ahmanson family, our students will be able to partake in experiential learning opportunities in a facility that reflects what they will find beyond the border of the campus,” College of Arts and Letters Dean Linda Essig said.
You can support Cal State LA students and the State Playhouse by making a gift and having your name or the name of a loved one on a plaque on a playhouse seatback. Please call University Advancement at (323) 343-3060 for more information.
Photo: The newly remodeled State Playhouse. (Credit: J. Emilio Flores/Cal State LA)