Backstage Renovations at La Mirada Theatre

While the COVID-19 pandemic has closed the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts to the public since last March, it didn’t stop the theatre staff from preparing for its next opening night, even if that night comes Fall 2021. Some much-needed backstage renovations have enhanced even further what the Los Angeles Times has hailed as “one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California.”

“While COVID-19 has been an unfortunate crisis, we decided to look for the silver lining,” says La Mirada Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director BT McNicholl, “We took this unexpected pause to make the Theatre even better for our patrons.

While patrons will be treated to a new modernized lobby, a sleek Customer Care service area, and touchless ticket scanners, the backstage improvements will make the biggest impact on artists performing at the theatre. Some of the highlights include fully renovated dressing rooms and a tastefully appointed “Green Room” where performers congregate between performances.

In the auditorium, a brand-new front row has been installed for one-night concerts and family shows. The original design for the theatre called for 3 front rows:  row “A”, row “B”, and row “C.”  Rows “A” and “B” were to be free-standing chairs that would only be placed in position when the orchestra pit was not being used.  These 2 rows would sit on the pit cover.  However, whenever row “A” and “B” were used, there were complaints.  The seats were too high, creating sightline issues for the patrons in row “C” behind them, so they were taken out of service.  The theatre realized that if they could shorten the legs on a set of chairs, they could customize them to the perfect height to correct the issue.  After customizing the height, the theatre now has 26 additional “Diamond Level” seats with beautiful, unobstructed views.  These seats will generally be used for concerts and one-night presentations, offering unprecedented “front row” up-close views of the artists.

The benefit to these renovations will be fully realized this Fall when the Theatre is hoping to reopen with another outstanding musical production. An announcement of La Mirada’s upcoming season will come later in the Spring.

Take an exclusive “behind the scenes” tour of these recently completed La Mirada Theatre renovations.

Theatre lobby improvements include touchless ticket scanners, reupholstered furniture, new tables, new artwork on the walls, and helpful lobby signage. New custom-made ticket boxes, which match the original wooden walls, now tie together the entire entryway. Also on the way are new lamps and trash cans (replacing ones from the ‘80s). The customer care area upgrades are sleek, modern, and more efficient.

Green Room improvements include new carpet, paint (not green), furnishings, ceiling tiles, and dimmable, cost-efficient LED lighting. Historic photos and posters, framed as a gift by the Friends of La Mirada Theatre (the volunteer usher organization), now grace the walls.

The technical director’s office improvements include a new desk, chairs, carpet, paint, and ceiling tiles.

Dressing room improvements include new carpet, paint, ceiling tiles, and counters.

Stage crew break room improvements include new carpet, paint, ceiling tiles, lockers, table, and chairs.

Lighting booth improvements include two (2) new adjustable tables for lighting designer and board operator. These replaced a ‘50’s-era desk that had served as a lighting table.  Other upgrades were a fixed overhead light and new paint.

Major improvements were made to the back rows to ensure the safety of patrons, especially when walking in/out of the last rows in the dark. The area was graded to eliminate uneven surfaces.

Sources & Photos: City of La Mirada | La Mirada Theatre