A.V. ARTS PROGRAMS REACH CENTER STAGE; THEATERS, EVENTS ENHANCE CULTURAL SCENE.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

After years of too few offerings and crude venues for those performances that were available, Antelope Valley's arts and entertainment is now blossoming.

In the last six years, the two major performing art theaters sprang up, programs for the arts were created, and big name talent has begun making stops in the Antelope Valley.

``It's an exciting time to be here,'' said Laura Hemenway, a music professor at Antelope Valley College.

The contrast between today's arts and entertainment scene and that of a just a few years ago is striking.

Hemenway remembers leading the symphony orchestra in concerts in the late 1970s that were performed in the college gymnasium.

A visiting conductor once paid a dubious compliment: ``It has the best acoustics of any gym I ever played in.''

Efforts were made to make it look more like a concert hall by building a stage with risers and hanging black curtains from the light fixtures.

``It was a `Hey, let's put on a show!' kind of thing,'' Hemenway said.

At the time, the college was the only game in town when it came to a summer musical. People would line up in sweltering heat to see a production in the college's ``black box'' theater. Inevitably the air conditioning would go out, Hemenway recalled.

``They were primitive conditions, but there was such a hunger for theater,'' Hemenway said.

LPAC 

Antelope Valley's arts and entertainment scene took a quantum step forward with the opening on Nov. 22, 1991 of the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, a $10 million, 750-seat theater, built after years of City Council turmoil over its size, location and expense.

LPAC opened with a performance by Henry Mancini and has since attracted such talent as Natalie Cole, Harry Belafonte, and Penn and Teller.

In addition to attracting professional talent, LPAC's main stage and its auxiliary 99-seat black box theater provides a venue for Antelope Valley College shows and local theater and dance groups.

``We've come along way in six years,'' said Bruce Spain, LPAC's manager. ``We started with 160 events a year. This year we'll have 330.''

Furnished with African mahogany paneling, brass railings, alabaster lights and marble and brass drinking fountains, the theater is a far cry from the days when shows were performed in gymnasiums or makeshift theaters.

LPAC is home to Lancaster's Cedar Street Theatre amateur group, whose audiences used to sit on folding chairs in the old auditorium of the valley's original civic center.

Playhouse

Another major boost to the arts and entertainment scene was the addition of the $2.9 million, 348-seat Palmdale Playhouse in September 1994. Housed in a rebuilt elementary school auditorium, the playhouse is home to the Palmdale Repertory Theater, Desert Opera Theater and the Palmdale Youth/Community Orchestra.

``To me it's a place for somebody to be somebody,'' said playhouse manager Dea McAllister. ``People go to work 8 to 5 but maybe they have a hankering to do art - to act, to sing, to play an instrument. Palmdale Playhouse gives anybody a place to study the arts.''

Notable performances this season included ``You Lucky Girl,'' the only play ever written by ``Tarzan'' creator Edgar Rice Burroughs; the launching of an annual Shakespeare festival; and a series of concerts celebrating the seasons featuring the Palmdale Youth/Community Orchestra, the Palmdale Youth Choir and the Palmdale Youth Dance Troupe.

Palmdale also books big name talent to its outdoor Fall Festival and summer park concerts, including Tom Jones June 28 at Marie Kerr Park.

A summer theater camp is scheduled in July for youths ages 12 to 19. The camp will conclude with a performance of ``The Hobbit'' Aug. 1-3.

``Every kid will be in the play. Everybody will build sIets. Every kids will sell tickets. There's no prima donnas here,'' McAllister said.

With performances, rehearsals, programs such as the theater camp, and art exhibits, the playhouse is in use 352 days a year.

``It (arts and entertainment) is moving along quite well with the establishment of the professional theaters,'' said Alis Clausen, an Antelope Valley resident and board member of the Los Angeles County Music and Performing Arts Commission.

``It's nice to see the commitment for bringing professional entertainers and for the training of young people in the arts.''

What's needed to enhance the arts in the Antelope Valley now is programs in the elementary schools, Clausen said. Ways must be found to provide those opportunities, perhaps through the use of volunteers or PTA sponsored programs.

``We need to be sure that these kinds of experiences are available to every child,'' Clausen said. ``That's really the next step.''

The college

Antelope Valley College remains a major force in arts and entertainment. The college still sponsors the orchestra and, under the direction of David Newby, has developed the 80-singer Antelope Valley Master Chorale.

Other music programs include the Antelope Valley Jazz Ensemble and a commercial music program.

The college still has its summer musical program as well as the theatre for young audiences program.

A highlight this year was the college's world premiere of ``The Rainbow Goblins,'' a music and dance production derived from a book written by an Italian count.

The college's art gallery, under the direction of Pat Hinds, offers a mix of touring exhibits as well as works produced by faculty and students.

While praising this new growth in arts programs, Betty Lou Nash, a longtime Antelope Valley arts supporter, said more should be done to draw younger audiences.

Nash said she does see signs of arts programs coming back in high schools and elementary schools, but more needs to be done.

``If you get anI early start it stays with you for life,'' Nash said.

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Photo

Photo: The $10 million Lancaster Performing Arts Center opened in 1991.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News