Redondo Beach Sues Civic Light Opera

Two months after terminating its relationship with the , the city of Redondo Beach filed a lawsuit seeking the recovery of more than $200,000 in unpaid rent.

"It is unfortunate that despite our nearly 20-year history of working together, the Civic Light Opera has chosen to ignore their financial obligation to the city of Redondo Beach," Gin said in a statement released Tuesday.

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According to the news release from the city, the Civic Light Opera owes $209,352.50 for 19 performances and 30 rental days for Beehive, 19 performances and 31 rental days for 1940s Radio Hour, 19 performances and 31 days for She Loves Me, and 19 performances and 31 rental days for The Light in the Piazza. All performances and rental days were at the .

"The Civic Light Opera signed binding agreements with the city of Redondo Beach for the use of our Performing Arts Center for these 76 performances," Mayor Mike Gin said in the release. "The Civic Light Opera sold tickets and collected significant revenues from patrons attending these 76 productions."

Civic Light Opera Executive Director/Producer James Blackman III assured the city in July that it would receive payment within 24 hours, according to the city's news release. No payment was made.

In an interview with the Daily Breeze, Blackman called the lawsuit "mean spirited."

"I don't know what their deal is," he told reporter Douglas Morino. "The $200,000 was going to be enthusiastically returned to them."

The debt was the primary reason the city cut ties with the organization.