Shows Continue at Hermosa Playhouse

While neighboring Redondo Beach has terminated its relationship with the , the theatrical production company has said that it will continue to present shows here in Hermosa Beach.

"Plays produced by Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities at the will be presented as scheduled, as well as the remainder of the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities 2011-2012 season and beyond," according to a statement on the company's website.

Concern surrounding the company has mounted after Redondo Beach City Manager Bill Workman and Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin told sister site  on Monday afternoon that Redondo will no longer allow Civic Light Opera to use the city's performing arts center.

The Civic Light Opera uses the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and the Hermosa Beach Playhouse for some of its performances.

While Hermosa Beach still allows the company to use the local playhouse, Redondo Beach has cut ties with the group because, Workman said, it has not paid its rental fees and charges for the 2010 season.

Gin said that the organization owes Redondo Beach $209,000. The last payment it made, for $10,000, was submitted to Redondo Beach in February 2010.

Normally, fees and payments due are made up front, but Redondo has granted the Civic Light Opera leniency over the years because of their "longstanding relationship," Gin said.

"We've always received payment in full for their prior season by June," Gin said. "[This year] to date, we have not received any additional funding other than the $10,000."

Gin also said the decision was not made lightly.

"This is a very tough decision, very frankly, for me personally. … I for one have had season tickets to the South Bay Civic Light Opera for years and feel that they've brought an extraordinary amount of talent and cultural richness to our community," Gin said.

The Civic Light Opera's reservations for using the Performing Arts Center in September and December have been canceled, Gin said. The organization has planned productions of Company and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

In the statement posted online, the theater group said that it will directly notify subscribers and individual ticket holders when the new dates for Company are confirmed.

"Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities has always extended a liberal exchange policy to our subscribers and ticket holders. After the new dates are announced, those who need to exchange tickets for a different date may do so by calling the box office," the group wrote.

In a phone call to Patch, Gin said recent budget cuts brought the payment issue to a head in Redondo.

"This is a very tough decision, but it was a decision that needed to be made particularly in light of the tough budget that we have experienced as a city," Gin said, noting that Redondo Beach had asked employees to make "a significant amount of sacrifices."

"It was something that, frankly, we had to do to really be accountable to all taxpayers in our community," he said.

When called for comment, a representative of the Civic Light Opera directed reporters to the statement posted on the organization's website.