VENTURA : Plaza Players to Stop Livery Performances

Plaza Players Theater will stop performing at the Livery in downtown Ventura, theater directors announced Monday.

Citing difficulties in meeting rent and other expenses as well as loud music in adjacent buildings, artistic and executive director Michael Maynez said the theater group is looking for a new location in the downtown area.

The theater’s board of directors voted Sunday in an emergency meeting to halt productions at 34 N. Palm St.

“The theater has been slowly sinking under a $2,000-a-month rent burden, plus the additional costs for maintenance, utilities, taxes and insurance,” Maynez said.

“The board decided that even if the financial load was resolved, the noise of rock bands and flamenco dancing in adjacent buildings make it impossible to provide sensitive theater at the Livery.”

Plaza Players Theater has performed at the Livery for about five years, city officials said.

“I hope this doesn’t mean we’ll be losing a theater group,” said Sonia Tower, Ventura’s cultural affairs supervisor. “But arts groups are tremendously resourceful.”