Moonlight Amphitheatre Project

Background | Project | Timeline | Fact Sheet

Latest Construction Photo | Link to Previous Construction Photos

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Construction began on the Moonlight Stage House Project on September 9, 2008.  Please see below for the latest Construction photos and a link to previous photos.

June 13, 2009 - Canopy sign installed (top); June 20, 2009 - Canopy sign at night (bottom).

Click here to view previous construction photos.

“A Salute to the Past, A Toast to the Future” Pre-Show Ceremony, August 31, 2008 commemorating the final performance on the existing stage.

Background

The Moonlight Amphitheatre located in Vista’s Brengle Terrace Park was originally constructed in 1975 by the Vista Foundation (now the Moonlight Cultural Foundation) as part of a bicentennial project. Original construction included a small concrete stage and a terraced seating area. Summer theatre productions began in 1981 and continue today with the Summer Season of Broadway-style musicals produced by the City of Vista’s Moonlight Stage Productions. The Moonlight Amphitheatre is also used for community events and rentals such as the City’s Fourth of July celebration, Youth Theatre productions, concerts, fundraisers, and church services. Over a million people have enjoyed the Moonlight and its various programs since the early 1980’s.

The Moonlight Amphitheatre stage and temporary backstage facilities are in need of upgrading in order to continue serving the City’s cultural and performing arts programs and to meet the accessibility needs of the community. Constructing an enclosed stage and backstage support facilities will have several other benefits such as improving overall safety conditions and security and providing protection from the elements for personnel and equipment. A master plan has been in place since 1991 to complete the necessary upgrades including a new stage house. In 1992, the City hired an architectural firm to design a new stage house and permanent backstage facilities. In 2003, the first phase of the Moonlight Amphitheatre project was complete, including the installation of the underground utilities and a backstage fire access road. In November 2007, the City started the Design/Build process for the project in preparation for construction beginning in September 2008.

Moonlight Amphitheatre Project

The Project will replace the aging stage and temporary backstage facilities with an efficient enclosed stage house and related support facilities. Key features of the Project include a fly loft with electronic rigging system for scenery and equipment, backstage restrooms and dressing rooms, rehearsal room, scene assembly/work shop, costume room, orchestra pit, permanent theatrical equipment infrastructure, and sound, lighting, and video equipment packages. The project also includes associated site development and site work, utilities, and disabled access upgrades. The stage house and support facilities will be approximately 12,000 square feet and the fly loft will be approximately 60’ feet high. A rendering of the new stage house follows. Fine tuning of the appearance is anticipated as the design-build process continues.

The new facilities will provide opportunities for increased programming, rentals and overall usage of the Amphitheatre for arts and cultural programming and rentals throughout the year. Potential expanded usage of the Amphitheatre includes: children and family-themed programming, concerts, touring productions, art shows and exhibitions, fund-raising events, festivals and community group events.

Timeline

The Design/Pre-Construction Agreement was approved by the City Council in October 2007 and the Construction Agreement will be brought to the City Council in early Summer 2008. Construction on the stage house will begin in September 2008 after the close of the Summer Season and is slated to be completed in June 2009 in time for the start of the 2009 Summer Season.

Moonlight Amphitheatre Stage House Fact Sheet

Click the link above for a one-page fact sheet on the Moonlight Stage House Project.

For more information on the Moonlight Amphitheatre Project, please contact Marie Ertel at (760) 726-1340, ext. 1141 or mertel@cityofvista.com.