Wildfires devastate local arts scene, too

By: PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:39 PM PDT ∞

San Diego's cultural institutions operate on a very thin margin and a natural disaster can have devastating long-term effects.

So far this week, San Diego County's wildfires have forced many theaters, concert venues and museums to close their doors and cancel performances, but the real pinch will come later this week if evacuations, road closures and a heavy smoke layer continue to keep county residents holed up in their homes.

One of the region's biggest casualties was the Escondido Fall Renaissance Faire, which was forced to postpone its opening weekend (originally slated for this Saturday and Sunday). The two-weekend festival, based in Escondido's Felicita Park, will now run Nov. 3-4 and 10-11.

Another major regional show that was forced to postpone its run was the 32nd annual Harvest Festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Originally set for this coming weekend, it will now run Nov. 9-11.

On Tuesday (when Preview was going to press), theaters and concert halls around the county were announcing the cancellation of Tuesday and Wednesday night performances.

Broadway/San Diego announced it was canceling Tuesday's almost sold-out performance of "Jersey Boys" at the San Diego Civic Theatre. The nearly 3,000 ticket-holders were being offered refunds or relocation to different nights of the musical's three-weekend run.

The Old Globe canceled sold-out performances of both "A Catered Affair" and "Oscar and the Pink Lady" for both Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Although The Old Globe itself is not in immediate danger, several staff members and patrons have been affected by the devastating fire situation. We wanted to cancel performances in order to give them peace of mind in dealing with the security of their families and to ensure their safety by not having them make the possibly dangerous drive into Balboa Park,” said Globe Executive Director Lou Spisto. “We hope to resume performances on Thursday, October 25, and we will make every effort to exchange patrons’ tickets into convenient performance dates later in the run.”

Other theater performances canceled on Tuesday were Welk Resort Theatre's "Thoroughly Modern Millie," San Diego Repertory Theatre's "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)" and Cygnet Theatre's "St. Nicholas."

Tuesday night's Mum concert at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach was canceled as was Wednesday night's performance by Chevelle at SOMA San Diego. Also, all cultural events at UC San Diego (including a "Sicko" film screening on Tuesday) were canceled early this week as the campus was ordered shut down on Monday and Tuesday.

The San Diego Chamber Orchestra also canceled its Tuesday performanze at the Del Mar Country Club, and married singers Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez announced they'd postpone their concert planned for Wednesday to Nov. 10.

Randall Hickman and Douglas Davis, co-owners of Vista's Broadway Theater, have been using their 49-seat downtown theater as a refuge since they were evacuated from their Fallbrook home on Tuesday morning. Equipped with a TV set, cots, microwave oven and refrigerator, they were able to stay there temporarily and even invited in a few other Fallbrook evacuees.

At La Jolla Playhouse, no performances are now under way, but the New York cast of "Cry-Baby," the musical set for its world premiere at the Playhouse next month, was scheduled to fly in on Tuesday to start local rehearsals. Playhouse spokeswoman Ria Hagan said she anticipated the campus would reopen in time to avoid any missed rehearsals.

San Diego's museums are often closed on Mondays, so not much business was lost, but not all of them reopened Tuesday. One of the busiest ---- the San Diego Natural History Museum ---- closed its doors Tuesday. Home of the "Dead Sea Scrolls" exhibit, the museum will honor Tuesday's ticket-holders on any other day. The decision on whether to reopen the museum will be made on a day-to-day basis and ticket-holders can call the museum or check the museum Web site for daily news, according to museum spokeswoman Lollo Enstad.

San Diego Museum of Art reopened Tuesday and museum officials were expecting a decent crowd. "Balboa Park is pretty clear of smoke and the museum is air-conditioned, so if people are looking for a way to escape the smoke and breathe freely, they can come here," said museum spokeswoman Golda Akhgarnia.

Among the Balboa Park museums that also were closed Tuesday were the San Diego Museum of Man, the San Diego Air & Space Museum, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the San Diego Automotive Museum and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Visitors should call each museum before they visit to see if they are open.

Pam Kragen is the entertainment editor of the North County Times.

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