ARTISTIC ADVISER MAY TAKE STAGE COLLEGE AWAITS APPROVAL ON FILLING NEW-THEATER POST.

Byline: Eugene Tong  Staff Writer

VALENCIA - College of the Canyons is set to hire a stage manager from the Lancaster Performing Arts Center as a consultant to plan programs at its new 950-seat theater.

If approved Wednesday by the Santa Clarita Community College District board, Rodney Stickrod, technical director at the Lancaster theater, will help the Valencia college lay an artistic foundation for the $15 million venue in time for the start of its inaugural season in October.

``This opportunity allows me to look more at the management and the artistic side,'' Stickrod said. ``It's making the artistic decisions and kind of trying to get a vision and see a vision through.''

Stickrod's $9,400 contract will last six to eight months, with the cost to be split between the city of Santa Clarita and the college, said Phil Hartley, the college's executive vice president.

``We could use some expert help to establish the hows and wherefores for bringing in commercially produced events,'' he said. ``We're very fortunate to find Mr. Rodney Stickrod, who has a great amount of experience and expertise in the area.''

Stickrod has spent 20 years working behind the scenes at stages in New York, Chicago and Dallas. As technical director at the Lancaster theater, he has overseen performances by such headliners as B.B. King and Willie Nelson, and recently, a touring production of ``Singin' in the Rain.''

He said he is prepared to share his expertise with Santa Clarita.

``(Lancaster) is a little more isolated,'' Stickrod said. ``That allows Lancaster to kind of choose what Lancaster wants, and allows them to cater to their own needs.

``On the other hand, the entire Santa Clarita area is five different towns,'' he said. ``The challenge of this theater would be to cater to these five different cities. There is a huge change from Canyon Country to Valencia in taste, lifestyle and everything. The key to this one will be versatility.''

Stickrod said he plans to complete the season program by this summer. He envisions the venue playing host to a variety of musical acts, along with some Broadway productions and children's programs - if the budget allows.

``It has to be paid for from the ticket sales and underwriters,'' Hartley said. ``It's typical for businesses and individuals to underwrite performances that are of interest to them. Rodney is going to help us look for outside sources of funding these events.''

Meanwhile, construction has continued apace at the theater on the northeast corner of the campus. Hartley said the primary architecture will be completed in April. The theater will debut in October.

Besides attracting touring performers to the city, the theater will serve as a venue for community arts groups and a classroom for the college's performing arts programs, Hartley said. In fact, campus music, dance and theater students are collaborating on an inaugural production to hit the stage during opening month, he said.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Primary architecture on College of the Canyons' new performing arts center should be complete in April, according to the school's executive vice president.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer