Cygnet Theatre moves to Liberty Station Arts District

Bzzzzt. Clang! Rrrr-rrrr. These are some of the sounds you may hear while walking through the construction zone in Building 178 of Liberty Station. Rehearsal spaces are being constructed, stages are being designed and dressing rooms are preparing for the worst kind of spills. On Sept. 10, Building 178 will officially become the new permanent home of Cygnet Theatre. 

According to Lisa Johnson, director of the NTC (Naval Training Center) Foundation, also known as the Arts District, the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center, the building Cygnet is moving into, is a project 15 years in the making. A freestanding performance space has not previously existed in Liberty Station, and the need for it has been resounding, according to Johnson. 

Cygnet Theatre, currently located in Old Town State Historic Park, knew they would likely need to move this year due to lease agreements with the state park. Other factors, such as accessibility and size of the theatre, have also contributed to Cygnet’s desire for a larger, more permanent space. 

An overlap in several of Cygnet and the NTC Foundation’s board members allowed a relationship to form between the two organizations. When they finally put their plan to build a theatre into action almost seven years ago, they met once a week to discuss plans, and have maintained a close, collaborative relationship since. 

The two organizations also came together to fundraise the project, an uncommon feat for two non-profit groups. This stage of the process required setting egos aside, Johnson said. 

A budget of $43.1 million was set for the project and has stayed on track despite a few hiccups, such as when significant arts donors shifted their contributions to basic human needs during the pandemic.

Craig Campbell, producing director at Cygnet Theatre, echoed that the pandemic halted funding on Cygnet’s side, but they were able to continue meeting with architects and had money set aside for design purposes. 

The NTC Foundation and Cygnet Theatre will continue to fundraise leading up to the fall opening, with $5.7 million needed to close the gap. At this point in the process, smaller design choices are being made, such as lighting fixtures and countertops. Performance grade flooring will be laid down in the rehearsal spaces for both the theatre and nearby dance companies to utilize. An outside patio space is also in the works, which will be open to the public. 

A benefit of the theatre design is its ADA accessibility, something Cygnet Theatre’s current location is lacking, according to Campbell. In the new theatre, any patron, including an individual in a wheelchair, will have access to seating in the first few rows, when they might normally be excluded to the back of the theatre. 

Building 178 is one of 26 original naval buildings which have been repurposed in the Arts District. The repurposing of Liberty Station began in 1993 when the U.S. Navy closed its base. At that time, The City of San Diego ensured that the space would continue to be used by small businesses, non-profit organizations and city departments, according to an article in  The Journal of San Diego History. 

The NTC Foundation has applied adaptive reuse, rather than historic preservation, of the buildings, Johnson said. However, several components of Building 178 have remained unchanged since 1942, including some of the flooring and original beams. New components have been added to accommodate future guests of the building, including larger air ducts to allow for quiet air conditioning. 

According to Campbell and Johnson, the draw to the new theatre is expected to be significant due to its location in the Arts District, which attracts visitors from Northern Baja up to North County. Due to its proximity to the airport, the Arts District also attracts international tourists.

The theatre will also benefit the Point Loma community. The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) says that community theatre unifies neighborhoods, strengthens local economies and attracts visitors to local businesses. 

Campbell looks forward to how curious people may be drawn to the new facility. 

“Point Loma deserves and wants a performing arts center,” he said. 

Clara Wilks, a fourth-year media communication major at Point Loma Nazarene University, said she hopes students will take advantage of the opportunity to participate in local theatre. 

”In order to become better empathizers and sympathizers, and better understand other people and their stories, I feel like you have to first experience [them],” Wilks said. “Theatre is such a powerful way to hear those stories and see other people’s perspectives. That’s not something that you get all the time on campus.”