Friends of the Rose Wins a Stay at the Rose Center Theater, For Now

Lauren Harvey
1 hour ago
6 min read

In an 11th-hour decision, Westminster City Council has decided to extend Friends of the Rose’s management contract another six months.

*Outside of the Rose Center Theater in Westminster. Photo courtesy of the Rose Center Theater.*

For Broadway star Kyle Selig, the Rose Center Theater wasn’t just one of the earliest venues he performed at. It was also his first employer.

The Huntington Beach native and Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) alum, known for originating the role of Aaron Samuels in “Mean Girls” on Broadway, took on a job working in the box office while in high school. Today, his mom still works there.

“I ate, slept and breathed theater,” said Selig, who graduated from APA in 2010. “A lot of that is thanks to the Rose Center in many, many different capacities.”

So Selig was surprised when a friend texted him that Westminster City Council voted to change management of the theater and Friends of the Rose – the nonprofit that’s operated the space since it opened in 2006 – would need to be out by the end of the year. Almost 10 minutes later, his mom called with the news.

“I was surprised and then pretty disappointed that it’s not exactly going to be the opportunity that it was for me, for people following in my footsteps,” Selig said.

In the coming days, Friends of the Rose were met with an outpouring of support, with some creating a petition that received over 1,600 signatures. Then, in an emergency city council meeting called by Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen on Dec. 18, city council unanimously voted to extend Friends of the Rose’s contract through June 30, 2026.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to the mayor and members of the Westminster City Council, as well as city staff for taking the time to revisit this matter, while engaging in thoughtful discussion regarding the future of the Rose Center Theater,” Friends of the Rose said in a statement. “We recognize the complexity of the decisions before them and value the opportunity for continued dialogue provided.

“We are equally grateful to the community members who made their voices heard with clarity, care, and conviction. In recent weeks, patrons, artists, families, educators, renters, and supporters stepped forward to share what this theater has meant to them. Your advocacy underscored a shared belief in the power of the arts and the role this space has played in shaping lives and building community.”

*The cast of “Robin Hood and the White Arrow,” an original musical by Tim Nelson and Kent Johnson, performs at the Rose Center Theater. Photo courtesy of Ryan Salazar.*

A Year of Contract Negotiations

Friends of the Rose’s five-year contract expired in 2024, and the company was operating on a month-to-month basis while the city evaluated the needs and operations of the venue. In May, the city hired consulting firm TheatreDNA to conduct a study into the theater, which included stakeholder interviews and community surveys.

Per the previous contract, Friends of the Rose did all of its own fundraising to operate the theater, while the city covered the cost of building maintenance and utilities. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit raised about $300,000 per year, while the city paid about $50,000, said Vice Mayor Carlos Manzo.

In addition to producing four of its own musicals each year, Friends of the Rose rented out the space to other companies, including Orange County Children’s Theater (OCCT), Clifton Dance Project and the Vietnamese American Philharmonic Orchestra.

At the end of its study, TheatreDNA recommended that the city extend its contract with the Rose Center Theater and also pay $5,200 per month for rent and an additional surcharge of $2 for every seat sold or unsold for each event at the theater. Friends of the Rose responded with two proposals: Extend a per-event 5% charge averaging around $2,000, or continue with TheatreDNA’s recommendation.

On Nov. 12 city council, in a 3-1-1 vote, decided not to renew the contract, despite TheatreDNA’s recommendation. As such, the Rose Center Theater would be closed to the public until a new management decision was made.

At the Dec. 18 meeting, Mayor Nguyen assured that “nothing” would change at the Center, even with the decision not to extend Friends of the Rose’s contract.

“I represent each and every resident here. I have to be fully accountable for everyone one of them, not to a certain group. That’s why I am doing what I’m doing,” he said. “Nothing is changing, except we are beginning a fair and open process to select an operator who meets our city’s new objectives and requirements.”

But Vice Mayor Manzo, the only council member who supported extending Friends of the Rose’s contract, saw the decision as a loss for the community.

“It’s a travesty to have to displace all these performers and negatively impact our community, to have an empty theater for that amount of time,” he told Culture OC. “I just don’t get that. I don’t understand the thinking behind it.”

“Robin Hood and the White Arrow,” which would have been Friends of the Rose’s last production at the Rose Center Theater under its current contract, closed Dec. 21. Photo courtesy of Ryan Salazar.

History of the Rose

At the heart of the Rose Center Theater is longtime managing artistic director Tim Nelson, who’s led Friends of the Rose since the theater’s opening in 2006. Nelson – who Selig considers one of his first mentors – also led the APA musical theater department for almost three decades, and just retired from his teaching position last year.

Nelson first became connected with Westminster City Council in the ‘90s while directing shows alongside the Cultural Arts Committee at the now-closed 17th Street School theater. Eventually, the city tapped him to help with speeches and preparation for the All-America City Competition in Fort Worth, Texas, an honor Westminster was awarded in 1996.

Mayor Margie Rice, who passed away at age 92 in 2021, was the main force behind opening the Rose Center, recalled Nelson. It was initially meant to be named the Abbey Center – like Westminster Abbey – before it earned its current name.

In 2006, the Rose Center officially opened on All American Way – the same street city council just voted to partially rename Charlie Kirk Way following the assassination of the conservative podcaster in September. Kirk had no connection to the city of Westminster.

“The opening of the theater back in 2006 was pretty special. But to be honest, the first two or three years were not easy,” Nelson said. “When we finally hit our stride, which is somewhere around 2015-2016 probably, those are my favorite times. They’re kind of like the classic times.”

Reporter’s note: I first crossed paths with Nelson while performing in his production of “Alice in Wonderland” with OCCT at Garden Grove’s Gem Theater in 2015. Later that year, I had the opportunity to reprise my role as Tweedledee at the Rose under the direction of Nelson and one of his close collaborators, Vincent Aniceto.

My freshman year at Huntington Beach High School, I enrolled in APA’s musical theater department, extending my school day to learn directly under Nelson and his team. Over the course of four years, I performed in everything from “The Little Mermaid” and “Mary Poppins” to “Brigadoon” and “1940’s Radio Hour,” the last of which was presented at the Rose.

Though my time as a performer ended after high school, learning under Nelson at the Rose was a formative part of my journey to becoming an arts and culture writer. My hope is that, no matter who manages the theater down the line, the venue will continue to foster the next generation of artists and provide a platform for their personal and professional growth.

*Inside of the Rose Center Theater. Photo courtesy of Rose Center Theater.*

Future of the Rose

Nelson may have retired from his teaching position at APA, but he’s far from slowing down. Last weekend, he wrapped up a production of “Robin Hood and the White Arrow” – one of his original musicals. Additionally, he’s set to direct APA’s upcoming productions of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Hello, Dolly!” On Dec. 30, Friends of the Rose will also celebrate 20 years with a special tribute concert.

During the six month contract extension, the city will continue to assess the situation and form a request for proposal (RFP) for the center. Friends of the Rose will also have an optional three month extension, depending on how fast the RFP process is moving along. The city council is due to make a decision in April, Nelson said.

No matter what happens with the contract, Nelson assures that Friends of the Rose will continue as a company. Several local groups have already reached out to him offering up their spaces for future productions.

“We’re a strong theater company, and we love the support and outpouring that’s been happening regarding us,” Nelson said. “People are wanting to continue with us, no matter where we are and what we do.”