For those involved in Theatre Palisades, “the show must go on” is more than a matter of show business — it’s a mantra of resilience that the actors live by. Performing has been their form of healing since the theater’s physical space burned down in the Palisades fire in January.
The mantra rings especially true at Theatre Palisades’ upcoming holiday show, “A Christmas Carol,” on Wednesday Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Morgan-Wixon Theatre in Santa Monica. As a radio show, the production pays homage to the 20th-century style of dramatized, auditory performance.
Theatre Palisades has been a long-standing organization for community theater in the Pacific Palisades for more than 60 years. The theater’s physical space, named “The Pierson Playhouse” after a donor, opened its doors to the public in 1988. In January, at the height of the Palisades fire, many members of the organization first learned of the building’s destruction while watching the news.
“I forget which local station was reporting about the fire, which was then affecting Palisades High School. And they kind of swung their camera around, and then ‘Boom, there’s the theater,’” Philip Bartolf, the president of Theatre Palisades, said. “Everything inside the building was either reduced to rust, ash or shards — literally nothing survived.”
The Eaton and Palisades fires killed 31 people and damaged more than 16,000 structures. Around 6,000 of those structures were destroyed in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas.
After a difficult year of recovery in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities, residents are now navigating the holiday season. Restaurants are reopening. Homeowners are rebuilding. And the actors at Theatre Palisades are rehearsing.
“Community arts theater is very important, because it really brings the older generation and the younger generation into a safe place to express themselves,” Theatre Palisades’ digital marketing manager Holly Moss-Naim said. “Having a community theater kind of gives you this sense of belongingness and vitality and reason to be.”
Along with finding a temporary space at the Morgan-Wixon Theatre, members of Theatre Palisades have been working to find replacement sound equipment for their annual Christmas show. The previous space once served as a community gathering hub where members would join together to paint sets, assemble decorations and work on costumes or props.
“I always consider [the theater] my second home…If we had the theater today, I’d be there right now, setting up the stage and decorating the lobby for the Christmas refreshments which I would bring in,” board member and the show’s co-producer Martha Hunter said.
“So me, personally, I lost two homes, and I get very sad about it, and it’s hard to believe. But that’s what happened and we’re carrying on, but in a different way,” Hunter, who lost her home in the Palisades fire, added.
The theater’s annual Christmas show started out 12 years ago as a holiday gift “to our community who supports us in the Palisades,” according to Hunter. Because of that, the show is free admission, offering a raffle, a visit from Mrs. Claus, homemade mulled wine, hot apple cider and holiday treats too. The organization is also accepting donations toward the theater’s rebuilding fund and canned goods for the Westside Food Bank.
Earlier this year, Theatre Palisades performed “Jest a Second!” at Kentwood Players in Westchester in June, which was originally scheduled for three days after the space burned down. Another main show, “The Wisdom of Eve,” was held at The Blue Door Theater in Culver City in September.
“A Christmas Carol” is presented by Theatre Palisades Actors’ Troupe, their second show after “Amelia Earhart Declassified,” which was performed at an auto-repair shop in June. A few shows have been held at Harvard-Westlake School and Paul Revere Middle School as a part of the theater’s youth production group.
After floating around from theater to theater this year, the organization is looking for its next temporary space for upcoming shows.
“My idea, and a few others, we wanted to pitch a tent on our parking lot, there’s a big parking lot, and have shows in there,” Hunter said. “It’s small steps we’re taking, but it will remain, it will endure.”
Two upcoming performances are fundraising for the theater’s rebuild. “79 And A Half,” an encore live performance by board member Mitch Feinstein, will be held at Zephyr Theatre on Jan. 11. Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers will be featured at a live concert at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church on Jan. 7.
According to Bartolf and Hunter, Theatre Palisades aims to produce two or three main shows next year.
“We’re hoping again that the community…as more people build and return, will have a life of its own and create more, bring in more people who will build and come to live in the community again,” Bartolf said. “So that when we open our doors, we’ll be able to welcome people into what is essentially a brand new theater.”
To attend the show, the Morgan-Wixon Theatre is located at 2627 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica. Holiday refreshments begin at 7 p.m. and the radio show starts at 7:30 p.m. for about 60 minutes. Free guest parking is available at the Venice Family Clinic at 2509 Pico Blvd.
The theater is accepting donations at the show or on their website theatrepalisades.org/.
Related Articles
LA County closes grant program, gives out $23.4 million in relief to businesses affected by wildfires 5 men charged with felonies for allegedly working as unlicensed contractors in Eaton fire burn-scar area LA City Council splits on study for Palisades climate resilience district Palisades Village held its 2025 Christmas tree lighting 11 months after the wildfire After months in a converted former Santa Monica Sears, Pali High is gearing up to return homeHence then, the article about show must go on for a community theater trying to rise from palisades fire ashes was published today ( ) and is available on Los Angeles Daily News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘Show must go on’ for a community theater trying to rise from Palisades fire ashes )
Also on site :
- BTS Dominates YouTube’s Global, U.S. Charts
- Quest Global est reconnue comme un leader dans le rapport ISG Provider Lens® 2025 Report for Manufacturing Industry Services and Solutions
- NASA’s Historic Lunar Mission Launch, in Photos