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8 OUR YUCAIPA | JUNE 2016 By Natalie Palmer An abrupt ending to Yucaipa Little Theater's 21 year history in the building at 12135 California Street has board members scrambling to find locations to finish out their 2016 season. YLT Board members arrived at the theater in February to find a letter from the building's management company, Moist Realtors in Calimesa, advising them that they had 30 days to vacate the building. "We were shocked," said YLT Board Member Christine Presley. "We had been good tenants for 21 years. We got a great rate from them so we fixed everything ourselves and never asked them for a thing." City records show the building is owned by ATKACHAY LLC, who is recorded owning it as a corporation in 2014. Prior to that, dating back to the early 90s, owners of record are Diane and Jan Black. One of the principals, Jan Black, said the building will go up for sale but declined to say what spurred the decision to kick out YLT in the meantime. "They were great tenants for many years, but we are not continuing that," he said. "It's time to sell the building and move on." But the show will go on, Presley said. She said the board was able to negotiate staying in the building until the end of May to finish up shows already in production, and that the theater is looking at other venues to complete their 2016 season. Into the Woods will be performed in July, Wizard of Oz in September, A Little Princess in November, and a Christmas show in December. Presley said YLT is looking at using area schools, a city building, or even the community park amphitheater. In the summer of 2017, the city of Yucaipa's new Performing Arts Center in the Uptown area should be completed. Groundbreaking is tentatively planned for June 27. Presley said YLT is looking forward to performing in the state-of-the-art facility. In February they purchased insurance and signed a good faith agreement with the city, promising to do at least five productions there per year. "None of this is free, and that's okay, we're used to paying," said Presley. "But we would have liked to keep paying to use the YLT building until the city facility is completed." The YLT board, directors, and actors are all volunteers. The theater has to pay royalties for the productions they do, and pay for all costumes, props and other costs. "It's all worth it to introduce families to the theater," Presley said. "Over the years we have had hundreds of children make their theater debut in our productions. Some of those kids started when they were six years old and now at 20 are directing," said Presley. "We don't want people to forget about us. We have a great group of family and friends who have always supported us, so keep up with us at www. yucaipalittletheatre.com and on Facebook at Yucaipa Little Theatre." At a farewell show in May, host Scott Ward reminded the audience that YLT isn't a building — it's a family and will continue bringing shows to Yucaipa, once again giving performers a place to call home. AFTER 21 YEARS IN ONE PLACE, YUCAIPA LITTLE THEATRE IS SUDDENLY HOMELESS "The show must go on…" is a popular saying in the acting business. Without a stage, however, Yucaipa Little Theatre is wondering how that will happen.

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