MORE ABOUT US
The People Who Bring You The Hermosa Beach Playhouse

JAMES A. BLACKMAN III
Executive Director/Producer
James’ accomplishments are wide and varied. James embarked on a career path that eventually brought him to our Nation’s Capitol. Living in a neighboring community, he became an elected official for Prince Georges County, Maryland. Among his major accomplishments was the creation of an historic district to preserve about 500 pre- and post Civil War homes. He also helped in the creation of a $140 million judicial center. Later, he came into the service of Ann Lewin, the founder and the original creator of the Children’s Museum of Washington, D.C., which has been duplicated across America. Just before James left to come home to Los Angeles, he took a position with the White House to restore the USS Sequoia and to bring it back to presidential service. After returning to Los Angeles, James went to work with the Blind Childrens Center, taking care of some of the center’s immediate fund raising needs. He became the managing director of the resident company at the Pasadena Civic and then was wooed away to Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera. While there, James decided it was time to be his own boss and opened Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities in August of 1991, which is now Southern California’s largest producing civic light opera. James is very pleased that he has created something that all the people of the Los Angeles and South Bay can be proud of. Other accomplishments include lecturing at the USC Entrepreneur Program and working very closely with The City of Redondo Beach on the expansion and complete renovation of The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and dedicated in January 2003 by the first lady of theatre Carol Channing and the person who also handed James his first Ovation Award for best musical in 1999. James has finally realized “the impossible dream” has come true. Fourteen years of work has paid off and now the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities has one of the best performing arts venues to present their shows in, and as he puts it “Did I mention the lobby, wow.” James, not being one to sit still for very long, is also very excited about his newest theatre opening up in the San Fernando Valley at El Portal on Lankershim in North Hollywood. James is very pleased that he will get the opportunity to join the other well known artists of the NoHo Arts District. He is looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with The City of Los Angeles and all the people of the San Fernando Valley as well as the wonderful owners of El Portal Theatre. As we embark on the 15th anniversary of the Civic Light Opera, James would like to thank the friends and subscribers of the Civic Light Opera. “I can conceive of no greater gift in my life than the Civic Light Opera turning 15 years old. God bless you, and God bless the Civic Light Opera. And a very special thank you to all of you who have made this dream a reality.”
J. DOUGLAS McPHERSON
Chief Financial Officer/Director of Operations

PEGGE FORREST
Director of Public Relations & Development
MARTHA THOMPSON
Accountant
THEODORE ESCOBAR
General Manager
CHRISTOPHER BEYRIES
Associate Producer/Technical Director
COLSTEPHANIE A. COLTRIN
Associate Producer/Production Manager
JAMES RODRIGUEZ
Subscription Manager
KEN HARTER
Subscriber Relations
FRANK PRATER
Subscriber Relations

JANET HAGOPIAN
Audience Development

 
STEVE RIVERA
Audience Development

CAROL TOVAR
Audience Development
 

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