Director/actor/producer Claudio Raygoza, whose Ion Theatre mounted a recent, highly praised, critically acclaimed production of “Marat/Sade” at the well-nigh impossible to find Academy of Performing Arts in Mission Valley, recently made an announcement to gladden the hearts of audiences, the directionally challenged and artists alike.
Ion executive artistic director Raygoza and producing artistic director Glenn Paris will inaugurate a new downtown theater space this month with three absurdist classics. Paris’ production of Samuel Beckett’s “Krapp’s Last Tape” and “Not I” (with Raygoza and Celeste Martinez) opens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 followed by Raygoza’s production of Eugene Ionesco’s “The Chairs” (with DeAnna Driscoll, Paris and Jonathan Sachs) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 16. Low-priced previews begin June 9.
“Glenn and I hope to open up the space as a safe harbor for all the wayward and wind-tossed little companies trying to stay afloat in town,” Raygoza said. “We’ve dubbed it New World Stage.”
With the opening of New World at 917 Ninth Avenue and the already opened Tenth Avenue Theatre (home to Eveoke Dance Theatre, Sledgehammer Theatre and Stone Soup) at 930 Tenth just off Broadway, it seems like a new downtown theatre district is building.
“Yes, we’re very excited,” said Raygoza. “I don’t know if we qualify for a district yet, but we’re definitely an aesthetic outpost. The Tenth Ave Playhouse [sic] sits just behind us. We’ve had keys and a lease to this semi-abandoned warehouse a mere ten days, but we’re leaping forward to take the big risk. We’re tired of being political victims and cultural survivors. We want to flourish. We’ll see how long we can hold out.”
As part of their strategy to retain the space, Raygoza and Paris will rent New World Stage at a reasonable price to small companies and independent projects that would include performance, visual art, and poetry readings. “We don’t plan to make our living from the theater,” he said, “so we will probably end up being the most affordable small venue in town, and with the current seating configuration, the space can accommodate between 80-120 people, or it can be easily scaled back for an intimate setting with 30-40. We love this flexibility.”
“Krapp’s Last Tape”/”Not I” and “The Chairs” play in alternating repertory Tuesday through Sunday through July 9. Tickets are $25 with discounts for the usual suspects — seniors, students and military. Phone (619) 374-6894 or go to the box office one hour prior to curtain. Visit www.iontheatre.com or purchase Artstix at www.sandiegoperforms.com. The specially priced opening performance of “The Chairs” June 16 include a pre-show wine reception and a post-show fundraiser celebration.