TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Jonathan Serret, Cultural and Community Services Director DATE:July 8, 2025
SUBJECT: Bank of America Performing Arts Center Resident Companies RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve Cabrillo Music Theatre, Inc., DBA 5-Star Theatricals as a Resident Company of the Bank of America Performing Arts Center for the term July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
2. Approve New West Symphony Association as a Resident Company of the Bank of America Performing Arts Center for the term July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
3. Approve Pacific Festival Ballet, as a Resident Company of the Bank of America Performing Arts Center for the term July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
4. Find that these actions do not constitute a project, as defined by the California Environment Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal staff time required to prepare the report is included in the Adopted FY 2024-25 Theatres Fund Budget. Resident Company theatre user fee discounts of approximately $70,000 per year are included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 General Fund and Theatres Fund Budgets.
BAPAC Resident Companies
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BACKGROUND:
In 1994, City Council designated three local performing arts companies as “Resident Companies” for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Bank of America Performing Arts Center (BAPAC). These organizations included Cabrillo Music Theatre, now known as 5-Star Theatricals (5-Star), New West Symphony (NWS), and Pacific Festival Ballet (PFB). This distinction was intended to enhance the visibility of these performing arts organizations within the community and to strengthen their fundraising efforts by leveraging the Resident Company status.
In December 2010, City Council adopted several recommendations included in the Cultural Arts Review Report, including a recommendation to formalize the process for designating Resident Companies. In June 2012, City Council approved a formal Resident Company policy (Attachment #1), which established guidelines, criteria, benefits, responsibilities, and application procedures. City Council also approved a renewal of Resident Company status for 5-Star, NWS, and PFB for a period running from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2015. Since then, each of these three organizations have subsequently received renewals of their Resident Company statuses. These renewals have typically been for three-year terms; a one-year term extension was granted during the pandemic.
To be considered for Resident Company status under the policy, a performing arts organization must be a Thousand Oaks-based nonprofit and must present a minimum of three unique productions each performance season with a combined total of at least five performances. Additionally, each organization must be current on any financial obligations to the City, utilize the BAPAC box office for ticket sales, and must adhere to theatre policies and directives regarding use of the BAPAC.
Performing arts organizations that are granted Resident Company status receive several benefits, including: priority booking for the Fred Kavli Theatre and Janet & Ray Scherr Forum, a 35 percent discount off standard theatre rent fees and some technical package costs, the waiver of performance holding deposits with some exceptions, and discounted office space in the Civic Arts Plaza (if available).
The Resident Company distinction is granted for a period of three years, after which time an organization must reapply to maintain its designation; the City reserves the right to limit the number of organizations receiving Resident Company status.
BAPAC Resident Companies
July 8, 2025
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DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Previously, proposals were accepted from interested arts organizations seeking Resident Company designation until October 1 of each year, for the following fiscal year. To provide a more transparent and equitable process, the Cultural and Community Services Department (CCS) revised the process to be application- based. An electronic application was created for interested organizations seeking Resident Company status and was made available in May 2025 with applications due June 6, 2025. Along with the application, organizations must provide proof of nonprofit status in good-standing, copies of audits and/or IRS Form 990s, roster of local board members, and overviews of productions and community outreach programs.
A link to the application was sent to the three existing Resident Companies in a direct email and the application link was shared via social media and the BAPAC website. Three applications were received from the existing Resident Companies.
Staff reviewed each of the application packets, along with available information through the office of the California Attorney General and Guidestar (a database that provides information about U.S. nonprofit organizations) to determine if the applicants meet the approved criteria for Resident Company designation.
Following is a brief overview of each of the applicants:
A. 5 Star Theatricals – 5-Star has presented locally-produced, high quality musical theatre at BAPAC since the venues opened in 1994. The organization presents three productions each season, two in the Scherr Forum and one in the Fred Kavli Theatre. These productions provide for approximately 37 performances each season. Additionally, 5-Star has begun a co-promotion partnership with TOArts to present a family holiday panto-style production in the Scherr Forum. This season’s productions include Cabaret, Frozen, and Hairspray. 5-Star maintains a strong community outreach program that serves youth, seniors, and members of the military in the greater Conejo Valley.
B. New West Symphony – NWS was founded in 1995 and is composed from the pool of professional, Los Angeles-area musicians. In addition to BAPAC, NWS also performs at Rancho Campana High School in Camarillo and, occasionally, other venues in the Southern California region, including The Soraya at California State University, Northridge. In recent years, NWS has presented an outdoor summer event in Moorpark. NWS presents an annual Masterpiece Series of six concerts, performing major symphonic works with internationally acclaimed artists as guest soloists and a Symphonic Adventures program to provide an educational concert for students. Additionally, they run the Laby Harmony Project, which provides music opportunities for underserved communities and currently serves more than 150 students in the City of Ventura. NWS considers the BAPAC to be its “home” venue.
BAPAC Resident Companies
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C. Pacific Festival Ballet – PFB presents classical ballet performances at BAPAC, including original ballet premieres, such as Noah’s Ark. The annual production of The Nutcracker is a staple in the BAPAC performance calendar and an annual holiday tradition for many families, along with their storybook ballet presentations each Spring. PFB also presents an annual “young dancer” performance in the Scherr Forum. Each season, these three productions consist of seven public performances along with added educational school performances.
Each performance provides local, company dancers an opportunity to perform with returning PFB alumni and world-renowned guest artists.
Apart from their independent programs, NWS and 5-Star have worked with the CCS team each summer by participating in the City’s annual Pop-Up Arts & Music Festival. PFB has worked collaboratively with TOArts to support touring dance productions through marketing, equipment, and occasional masterclasses. Staff believe that each of the above applicants meets the Resident Company criteria and is deserving of a renewal of the City’s designation as a BAPAC Resident Company.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
A. Create a more equitable, accessible, safe, welcoming, and inclusive government and community regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, language, education, and/or socio-economic status.
G. Continue City's commitment to community and cultural programs and services (such as Performing Arts/Theatres, Libraries, TOTV, Visual Arts,Youth and Senior Programs).
H. Participate in public-private and multi-jurisdictional opportunities to ensure residents have access to high levels of parks, recreation, education and leisure programs and services.
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Resident Arts Organization Policy
CAD:900-10\js\H:\COMMON\Staff Report\2025-City Council\070825 Resident Companies Approval Staff Report.docx