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Agoura Hill's Stage Door Theatre is closing after 28 years
Operators are unable to negotiate a new lease
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STORY TOOLS 
More from Conejo ValleyThe final curtain appears to be coming down for the Stage Door Theatre in old Agoura Hills, which for 28 years has presented live plays, readings and classes.
Owner Gale Trumbeaux, who founded the operation, and husband Mike Monteleone announced Monday it would close Sept. 13 after the last performance of the romantic comedy "Forty Carats."
Monteleone said the theater has "always operated on a handshake agreement" with Jerry Gaither, whom he called "a dear friend and landlord since 1980." Since Gaither died in early 2007, the theater operators have been unable to negotiate a new lease with the estate, Monteleone said.
Faced with the work of planning a new season, Monteleone said, he wrote a letter two weeks ago asking for clarification of theater operators' rental status. On Saturday they received a notice asking them to vacate as soon as possible, he said.
Monteleone said he and his wife are trying to stay positive and encouraging the theater's longtime subscribers, actors and stage production volunteers with the words, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
Monteleone said the historic building that houses the Stage Door's intimate, 50-seat venue was built in 1920 and used variously as a market and gas station. The theater group was founded in 1980.
He called it one of the oldest commercial buildings in the area.
It is at 28311 Agoura Road, on what used to be a major traffic artery from Los Angeles northward before the arrival of Highway 101.
Posted by clementine on August 19, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to the Stage Door Theatre years ago when I lived in the area. What a fantastic place. Low prices and entertaining plays in an intimate setting. I hope they can find another venue.
Posted by Kreemac70 on August 19, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to know how to reach the "estate" people so that we can write letters to them letting them know what a terrible decision they are making. This is just awful. We have very few "creative" venue's in our area...there goes another.
Bummer.
Posted by schenderson22 on August 20, 2008 at 10:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To those of you so worried about this theatre, I will let you know the new leasee has every intention of continuing the theatre's long tradition of entertaining our community. The new leasee will be able to renovate and restore this magical building (unlike the prior leasee).
The owner of the building and property needed someone who truly cared about the upkeep and not just turning a profit.
The new leasee is an upstanding person in the community and cares deeply about it's tradition. So keep a watchful eye on the property as it transforms yet maintains it's historical reputation in the community.
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