Tom Mitze, Director

The City of Thousand Oaks built and opened the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in October 1994, consisting of Thousand Oaks City Hall, a 5-acre park and two theatres. The City of Thousand Oaks’ Community and Cultural Services Department oversees Theatre operations for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Countrywide Performing Arts Center, the largest performing arts center between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Community and Cultural Services Department also operates TOTV Channel 10 government access channel, Arts Services, Cable Franchise agreements, Youth and Senior Services and special events.

The Countrywide Performing Arts Center consists of the 1,800-seat Fred Kavli Theatre for the Performing Arts and the 394-seat Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre, which combine outstanding arts and entertainment with state-of-the-art technology and acoustics. Over 250,000 patrons and 50,000 children attend more than 400 performances annually. The Countrywide Performing Arts Center is funded through a unique public/private partnership between the City of Thousand Oaks and the Alliance for the Arts.

The Countrywide Performing Arts Center’s stellar headliners run the spectrum from the contemporary to the classic, which includes touring Broadway musicals, popular entertainers, plays, award-winning children’s programs, international ballet, folk and modern dance companies, classical symphonic performances, chamber music, choral ensembles, civic light opera, comedy, distinguished speakers, films, magic, jazz, big bands, and community programs. To further enhance the theatre experience, the Fred Kavli Theatre Lobby, doubles as a fine art gallery for exhibitions by both local and internationally acclaimed artists.

The Civic Arts Plaza is the realization of a 20-year dream by Thousand Oaks citizens to provide a facility to house quality cultural activities. To date, over two million people have patronized the Civic Arts Plaza since its successful October 1994 grand opening. Designed by nationally renowned architect Antoine Predock, the 11-acre City complex juxtaposes serene meadowland and park-like vistas with a bustling entertainment center.

For more information about the Community and Cultural Services Department call the Administration Office at (805) 449-2700 or email theatres@toaks.org or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.