DECADE OF DELIGHTS PLAYHOUSE MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY.

Byline: Daily News

PALMDALE - Created out of a 1940 school auditorium for $3 million, the Palmdale Playhouse tonight celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Intended to give the community a real venue for theatrical and concert performances and also to bring in touring professionals, the playhouse now is home to more than 300 local residents performing in four dance troupes, two orchestras, two choirs, a writer's group and three theatrical companies.

``We've had a lot of blood, sweat and tears here and everybody worked really hard,'' said cultural arts/theater arts manager Dea McAllister, who was hired by the city 10 months before the theater's September 1994 opening. ``At any one time, it's a city unto itself in here. It's very busy and active in here.''

Next year, the playhouse will be adding a children's orchestra, and McAllister said in the future she hoped to stage more challenging productions and turn the Palmdale City Players into a true repertory company.

The 10th anniversary will be celebrated at 8 tonight with Santa Barbara's State Street Ballet performing ``Beauty and the Beast.''

Before the performance, Mayor Jim Ledford will hand out 10 Medici Awards - named for the Italian Renaissance family noted as patrons of the arts - to 10 longtime Playhouse supporters. Then the mayor will cut a 10th birthday cake for audience members to share.

Building the 348-seat Playhouse was a nine-year effort, started by Desert Opera Theater founder Anita Bakey. She organized the Antelope Valley Cultural Foundation to push for turning the Maryott Auditorium into a performing arts center.

The Maryott Auditorium had been built in 1940 for the Palmdale Grammar School, then rebuilt after a 1950 fire. The school in 1970 was renamed for former superintendent Roy H. Maryott, and, in 1983, was torn down except for the auditorium and a classroom building.

At one point, city officials made plans for a 700-seat performing arts center on Division Street land donated by a Beverly Hills developer. That idea was later scaled down and eventually abandoned because of projected costs that unexpectedly hit $8 million.

In 1993, the city began refurbishing the boarded-up Maryott - installing seats, enlarging the stage, building an orchestra pit and restrooms, and installing new dressing rooms, a lighting and sound system and a courtyard.

The cultural foundation contributed $500,000 toward the refurbishment.

Tickets for tonight's ballet are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, students, military personnel and youth. The theater is at 38334 10th St. E. Call [phone].

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The State Street Ballet will perform ``Beauty and the Beast'' tonight in Palmdale Playhouse to mark the venue's 10th anniversary.