Moonlight Amphitheatre Project
Background | Project | Timeline | Fact Sheet
Construction began on the Moonlight Stage House Project on September 9, 2008 and was completed in June, 2009 before the start of the summer show season.
July 2009-- Moonlight Amphitheatre in the evening.
July 2009- Moonlight Amphitheatre with audience.
July 2009-- Moonlight Amphitheatre
View 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 were 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 provided benefits such as improving overall safety conditions and security and providing protection from the elements for personnel and equipment. A master plan had 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 and in June 2009 the renovated Moonlight Amphitheatre was completed. .
Moonlight Amphitheatre Project
The Project replaced the aging stage and temporary backstage facilities with an efficient enclosed 
stage house and related support facilities. Key features of the Project included 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 included associated site development and site work, utilities, and disabled access upgrades. The stage house and support facilities are approximately 12,000 square feet and the fly loft is approximately 60’ feet high.
The new facilities 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.
