Madrid Theater

A community theater proposed for the former site of an X-rated movie house will cost $300,000 more than anticipated mostly because of unforeseen soil problems, city officials said Monday. Recent soil tests found that the site of the proposed Madrid Theater on Sherman Way in Canoga Park has a high water table and sandy soil that "is susceptible to liquefaction," according to a city report. Structural engineers suggested a more expensive foundation as an alternative, according to the report.

Not enough mid-sized theaters in L.A.? Not if the city's Cultural Affairs Department has anything to do with it. Officials of the department last week discussed a plan to create a touring circuit for locally generated productions, using five city-owned theaters.

A community theater proposed for the former site of an X-rated movie house will cost $300,00 more than anticipated due mostly to unforeseen soil problems, city officials said Monday. Recent soil tests found that the site of the proposed Madrid Theater on Sherman Way has a high water table and sandy soil that "is susceptible to liquefaction," according to a city report. Structural engineers suggested an alternative, more expensive foundation, according to the report.

The Madrid Theatre, a $2.9-million arts complex that is planned on the site of a notorious former adult theater, has a $400,000 budget shortfall, city officials say. On Wednesday, the city's Housing and Community Redevelopment Committee discussed how to secure the remaining funds, but delayed a vote on the matter until March 19.

A $2.75-million federal grant will transform the site that once was home to the X-rated Pussycat Theater into the Madrid Theatre, a performing arts venue that will feature family entertainment, city officials announced Wednesday. City Councilwoman Laura Chick hailed the grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration as a step toward revitalizing the area's downtrodden business district--bruised by both the recession and the Northridge earthquake.

The Madrid Theatre, a $2.9-million arts complex that is planned on the site of a notorious former adult theater, has a $400,000 budget shortfall, city officials say. On Wednesday, the city's Housing and Community Redevelopment Committee discussed how to secure the remaining funds, but delayed a vote on the matter until March 19.

Aiming for the type of audience seeking solace in Shakespeare rather than smut, business and civic leaders joined Friday morning to break ground on a $2.9-million arts complex on the former site of the X-rated Pussycat Theater. When it opens its doors later this year, the 500-seat Madrid Theatre will be one of the largest live theaters in the San Fernando Valley, officials said. The new venue, in the 21600 block of Sherman Way, will host drama, dance, musicals and symphonies.

Not enough mid-sized theaters in L.A.? Not if the city's Cultural Affairs Department has anything to do with it. Officials of the department last week discussed a plan to create a touring circuit for locally generated productions, using five city-owned theaters.

The Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to hire an architectural firm for $250,000 to design a community theater on the former site of an X-rated movie house in Canoga Park. The council approved a three-year contract with FMSY Architects, which designed or renovated the Back Alley Theatre in Van Nuys, the Los Angeles Actors Theatre and the Tiffany Theatre in West Hollywood. Using a $2.

* Big Band--Pierce College Foundation will host a big band dance with Ray Anthony and his Orchestra on Feb. 2 at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel, 21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills. $18. (818) 704-9725. * Mystery Theater--Woodland Hills Community Theatre will open Agatha Christie's "Spider's Web" Feb. 2 at the West Valley Playhouse, 7242 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park. $18. (818) 884-1907. * Symphony Concert--The New Valley Symphony Orchestra will play Feb.

Aiming for the type of audience seeking solace in Shakespeare rather than smut, business and civic leaders joined Friday morning to break ground on a $2.9-million arts complex on the former site of the X-rated Pussycat Theater. When it opens its doors later this year, the 500-seat Madrid Theatre will be one of the largest live theaters in the San Fernando Valley, officials said. The new venue, in the 21600 block of Sherman Way, will host drama, dance, musicals and symphonies.

A community theater proposed for the former site of an X-rated movie house will cost $300,00 more than anticipated due mostly to unforeseen soil problems, city officials said Monday. Recent soil tests found that the site of the proposed Madrid Theater on Sherman Way has a high water table and sandy soil that "is susceptible to liquefaction," according to a city report. Structural engineers suggested an alternative, more expensive foundation, according to the report.

A community theater proposed for the former site of an X-rated movie house will cost $300,000 more than anticipated mostly because of unforeseen soil problems, city officials said Monday. Recent soil tests found that the site of the proposed Madrid Theater on Sherman Way in Canoga Park has a high water table and sandy soil that "is susceptible to liquefaction," according to a city report. Structural engineers suggested a more expensive foundation as an alternative, according to the report.

A $2.75-million federal grant will transform the site that once was home to the X-rated Pussycat Theater into the Madrid Theatre, a performing arts venue that will feature family entertainment, city officials announced Wednesday. City Councilwoman Laura Chick hailed the grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration as a step toward revitalizing the area's downtrodden business district--bruised by both the recession and the Northridge earthquake.

A sun-baked, vacant lot is all that remains of the Madrid Theater on Sherman Way, where folks once watched the likes of Rudolph Valentino flitting silently across the silver screen. But a Canoga Park group hopes to resurrect the site to its former glory. With the city's assistance, it is working on plans to build a $2.6-million performing arts center. "It will be like the Phoenix rising from the ashes," said Jim Domine, conductor of the West Valley Symphony, which is involved in planning.

Property owners along Sherman Way in Canoga Park overwhelmingly approved a new street lighting assessment district to add pedestrian-friendly street lights to heighten security in the area. City officials said of the 61 property owners on Sherman Way between Jordan and Canoga avenues, 35 turned in ballots by the March 11 deadline. Of those, 32 favored and two opposed the new lighting district, according to Stan Horwitz, division manager of the city's Bureau of Street Lighting.