Ventura County Supervisor Matt LaVere, Ventura City Councilmember and Rubicon Board President Doug Halter, State Senator Monique Limón, Rubicon Co-Founder and Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns and State Assemblymember Steve Bennett with a big check. Photo by Lauren Haar.
On Saturday, December 9, California State Senator Monique Limón and Assemblymember Steve Bennett presented a check for $1.5 million to Rubicon Theatre Company.
“The arts are an essential part of our lives,” said Senator Limón, “and Rubicon Theatre has been dedicated to providing access to the performing arts and educational opportunities in Ventura County for 25 years.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of being a season ticket holder to the Rubicon Theatre for nearly two decades,” said Assemblymember Bennett. “The contributions the theatre makes to our community are enormous, and this investment will allow the Rubicon to expand their impact.”
“This gift is the most significant in Rubicon’s history, and we could never fully express our gratitude to Senator Monique Limón, Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Governor Newsom and the State of California,” says Rubicon Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns. “It comes at the perfect time as we celebrate our Silver Anniversary and begin to plan for ways Rubicon as an institution can serve future generations of Ventura and California residents.”
“The funds provided will help us create an accessibility plan, upgrade our technical equipment and complete a kitchen renovation which will enable us to expand and diversify our programming and encourage new audiences and participants to ‘cross the Rubicon.”
“This is an incredible endorsement from the State of California of Rubicon’s 25-year impact on the cultural, artistic and educational life of our region and bodes well for the future,” says Board President Doug Halter.
“ I am moved not only by the professional work on stage, but also by Rubicon’s commitment to providing opportunities for young people that didn’t exist before the company came into existence. We gratefully accept this incredible gift and we want to thank you, Monique, for heroically leading the charge, and you, Steve, for being a part of the Rubicon family since the beginning.”
Because of this support the Rubicon will be able to complete a commercial kitchen downstairs ,which means that in the spring, the will have cabaret, comedy and music on off-nights and events in the Rose Room downstairs.
This funding will also allow the buying of lights, sounds and projection equipment and save the company hundreds of thousands of dollars in rentals.
And finally, funds are available to create the plans and start a campaign for an outdoor terrace, accessible restrooms and parking.
Rubicon Theatre Company is located at The Karyn Jackson Theatre, located at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District.
