By Nick Diamantides
Staff Writer
Gigi Fusco Meese, executive director/producer of the Long Beach Playhouse has resigned. “The experience of being the caretaker of this venerable organization is one I will always treasure,” she said. “It has been my great pleasure to meet and work with every one of the members of the board of directors, the staff, the actors, and the volunteers.” Fusco Meese has left to become the director of strategic development for Musical Theater West (MTW) She will continue working part-time at the Playhouse until Dec. 31.
Fusco Meese started watching performances at the Playhouse more than 25 years ago when she was a student at St. Anthony’s High School. After graduating from college, she had a very successful career in real estate and mortgage banking and managed several escrow companies.
In addition to her career, she acted in several Playhouse performances and served on the board of directors of several community theaters. In 1997, she and her fiancé Richard decided to have their wedding at the Playhouse.
A year later two things happened almost simultaneously: The escrow company she was managing went out of business and an administrative position opened at the Playhouse. Seeing that as an opportunity to align her career with her heart’s desires, she applied and was hired. Later, she was named executive director.
Founded in 1929, the Playhouse put on performances in different venues throughout the city, until its present facility at 5021 East Anaheim St. was completed in 1950. “We have been putting on plays here ever since then,” Fusco Meese said. She noted that the company produces comedies, murder mysteries and dramas–many of which were originally performed in Broadway theaters.
The Long Beach Playhouse has performances every week of the year except for the last two weeks of December. It has two theaters: the 200-seat Main Stage on the first floor and the upstairs 99-seat Studio Theater. “The Playhouse puts on a total of 16 plays each year,” Fusco Meese said.
MTW puts on musicals, which, according to Fusco Meese, are not usually performed at the Playhouse.
MTW performances are done at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts on the CSULB campus, but plans are underway to expand into Anaheim. “They have a group of people that are working to get a new performing arts center there,” Fusco Meese said. “Plans are going fast and furious for that and when that magic castle is built, Musical Theater West wants to be one of the anchor tenants.”
She noted that a site for the Anaheim center has not been found yet, and she stressed that while MTW hopes to expand, “We’re not planning on leaving Long Beach.” As director of strategic development, she is heading the planning and fundraising efforts for the new Anaheim performing arts center.
Paul Garman, Musical Theater West’s executive director/ producer, said he has known and respected Fusco Meese for many years. “We feel that she is the right person to head up our strategic development and expansion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ray Smith, president of the Playhouse board of directors said he and everyone else at the Playhouse was struggling with mixed emotions. “We’re broken hearted to see her go. She will be sorely missed,” he said. “But at the same time we are very happy for her that she is moving onward and upward in the things that she loves to do.”
Fusco Meese said she will continue attending performances at the Playhouse and work there as a volunteer when time permits. “The best part of working at the Playhouse was getting to know all the wonderful people that work together to make it such a special place,” she said. “I will always be a part of its family.”
The Playhouse phone number is (562) 494-1014. Musical Theater West’s phone number is (562) 856-1999.
