Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

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Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
Thousand oaks civic arts plaza american luxury limousine.jpg
Limousine at Civic Arts Plaza
Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
Address2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard
Thousand Oaks, California
United States
Coordinates 34°10′28″N118°50′55″W / 34.1745°N 118.8486°W / 34.1745; -118.8486
Owner City of Thousand Oaks
Operator City of Thousand Oaks
TypePerforming arts center
Capacity Fred Kavli Theatre: 1800
Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre: 400 [1]
Construction
Opened1994;30 years ago (1994)
Architect Antoine Predock
Website
www.civicartsplaza.com

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a performing arts center and city hall for the city of Thousand Oaks, California. [2] Across Thousand Oaks Boulevard from Gardens of the World, the site is considered the downtown core of the city. [3] City hall includes Planning and Building Department, Public Works and other city departments. A park within the site is named for Richard Carpenter and his wife Mary. [4]

Contents

The immediate areas surrounding Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza was among the first populated parts of the Conejo Valley. The site, which was previously home to the Jungleland USA theme park, was home to some of the valley's first settlements in the 19th century. Prior to the settlers, the area was inhabited by the Chumash Native-Americans. [5]

Structure

An adjacent park is named for Richard Carpenter and his wife Mary. Mary and richard carpenter plaza park.jpg
An adjacent park is named for Richard Carpenter and his wife Mary.

Constructed in 1994 at cost of $63.8 million, the site was formerly Jungleland. [6] The project was designed by AIA Gold Medal architect Antoine Predock in combined Postmodern and Modern architecture styles including large sculptures mounted to the sides of the building.

The 210,000 sq. ft. building is ornamented with Indian sandstone. At its highest, the building towers ten stories; at its lowest, 22 feet under ground where it is anchored in volcanic rock. [7] The site was home to a Chumash summer camp in pre-colonial times, known as Ipuc (Ven-654). [8] In the 19th century, the site was land which belonged to Egbert Starr Newbury where he established the Conejo Valley's first post office. [9] [10]

Performing arts center

Bank of America Performing Arts Center includes the Fred Kavli Theatre, an 1,800-seat theater Kavli Theatre and the 394-seat Janet & Ray Scherr Forum. [11] Notable performers here have included Switchfoot, Jason Mraz, Paul Anka, [12] [13] Colbie Caillat, [14] [15] Vince Gill, [16] Art Garfunkel, [17] Kenny Rogers, [18] The Beach Boys, [19] Mary Chapin Carpenter, [20] Sara Evans, [21] Willie Nelson, [22] Kris Kristofferson, [23] and Peter, Paul and Mary. [24] Entertainers such as Liza Minnelli, Bill Cosby, David Copperfield, B. B. King, Sheryl Crow, Mikhail Baryshnikov, David Foster, and Jonathan Antoine have also performed. [7]

Music director Elmer Ramsey was instrumental in the development of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. [25] [26] The New West Symphony is the resident orchestra. [27] They are also resident orchestra of the Oxnard Performing Arts Center and Santa Monica's Barnum Hall. [28]

See also

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Elmer Hollis Ramsey was the founder and conductor of Conejo Symphony Orchestra, which was a precursor to the New West Symphony. He also established the Conejo Pops Orchestra. Ramsey was a professor at California Lutheran University from 1965 to 1992. He was the co-founder of the local Oakleaf Music Festival and instrumental in the development of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

References

  1. ↑ "Civic Arts Plaza". Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  2. ↑ Mason, Dave (May 20, 2024). "Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza gets green light for expansion". Ventura County Star. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  3. ↑ Harris, Mike (June 21, 2018). "Planned downtown Thousand Oaks revitalization takes significant step forward". Ventura County Star . Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. ↑ Writer, a Times Staff (October 26, 2004). "Couple Pledge $3 Million to Civic Arts Plaza". Los Angeles Times .
  5. ↑ Megli-Thun, Dawn (May 17, 2018). "Conejo's inconspicuous creek". Thousand Oaks Acorn. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  6. ↑ O’Brien, Tricia (2017). Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. Arcadia Publishing. Page 73. ISBN   9781467125697.
  7. 1 2 Baker, Pam and Jim Dunham (2002). Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. Community Communications, Incorporated. Page 52. ISBN   9781581920611.
  8. ↑ Maxwell, Thomas J. (1982). The Temescals of Arroyo Conejo. Thousand Oaks, CA: California Lutheran College. Page 20.
  9. ↑ Maulhardt, Jeffrey Wayne (2010). Conejo Valley (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. Page 13. ISBN   9780738580395
  10. ↑ Sprankling, Miriam (2002). Discovering the Story of The Conejo Valley. Newbury Park, CA: Conejo Valley Historical Society. Page 31. ISBN   0-9725233-0-8.
  11. ↑ Harris, Mike (October 5, 2019). "Thousand Oaks' Kavli Theatre re-opening after $2.5 million facelift". Ventura County Star . Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Paul Anka to bring his 14-piece band to Thousand Oaks for 60th anniversary tour" . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  13. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Paul Anka to Perform at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza" . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  14. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Grammy Winner Colbie Caillat Returns to Thousand Oaks by Popular Demand!" . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  15. ↑ "In Concert: Colbie Caillat, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Lola Haag" . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Concert Listings" . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Art Garfunkel's New 2017 Tour Dates". Grateful Web. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Kenny Rogers Extends Final Tour Schedule" . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  19. ↑ "The Beach Boys Extend "50 Years of Good Vibrations" 2016 Tour Dates: Ticket Sale Info – Zumic – Music News, Tour Dates, Ticket Presale Info, and More". May 30, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Mary Chapin Carpenter Announces Orchestral, Acoustic Tours". The Boot. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Sara Evans Announces Dates for Slow Me Down Tour". The Boot. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  22. ↑ "This week's on-sales: Lady Gaga, Willie Nelson, Bebel Gilberto and more". October 20, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  23. ↑ Noozhawk. "Gerald Carpenter: Kris Kristofferson To Touch and Go at Thousand Oaks Concert" . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Two of Peter, Paul and Mary trio continue tour in Thousand Oaks" . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Elmer Ramsey memorial service April 28". Callutheran.edu. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Conejo Valley loses its music man". Thousand Oaks Acorn. February 22, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  27. ↑ "New West Symphony – Civic Arts Plaza – Official Site". civicartsplaza.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  28. ↑ "New West Symphony : Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Santa Monica : Venues". newwestsymphony.org. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
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