CSUSM to Host Drive-in Movie and Concert Series
By Brian Hiro
Cal State San Marcos will bring entertaining arts programming to the campus and surrounding community while giving a boost to its School of Arts through a new partnership.
CSUSM will serve as the new host of a drive-in movie and concert series being presented by the California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAE). The first event will be a showing of the film “Mamma Mia!” on Friday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices start at $25 per car.
The drive-in series began in mid-August in the parking lot of the former Nordstrom store at the Westfield North County mall as a way of giving the public a safe, socially distanced version of the entertainment that the CCAE is known for.
But the center decided to move its venue to CSUSM in response to community feedback seeking easier stage viewing, bigger screens and more space overall. The number of tickets per event has increased to 400, up from 250.
CSUSM will benefit from the partnership in that its portion of the proceeds will support the university’s School of Arts, part of the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences.
“CSUSM is pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to our community, and in a way that benefits our arts program,” said Elizabeth Matthews, interim dean of CHABSS. “During this difficult time, it is essential that we keep the arts alive while providing safe and responsible venues for our students and community to have cultural experiences.”
Lot F, which is not being used as the campus is mostly closed because of COVID-19, will be the site of the performing arts series. The CCAE is managing the operations, event production and security of the events – no CSUSM employees are involved.
The CCAE is putting health and safety at the forefront for all drive-in events at CSUSM. Guests will be asked to remain in their vehicles, practice social distancing, and wear masks for the entirety of each performance or event. Guests may leave their car only to use the restroom, and once outside of their vehicle, they must practice social distancing.
There will be many portable toilets and hand sanitization stations located through the venue to prevent gatherings or clusters. Restrooms will be monitored by a housekeeping attendant to ensure that surfaces are cleaned after each use. Security, hired by CCAE, will strictly enforce all guidelines. And all event staff will be wearing personal protective equipment.
The CCAE will be continuing its drive-in series show through the holiday season. Live concerts will include performances by Three Dog Night, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Runaway June, as well as stand-up comedy sets by Whitney Cummings, Taylor Tomlinson and Iliza Shlesinger.
Drive-in movies will include showings of “Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Jurassic Park,” “West Side Story,” “The Princess Bride,” “Hocus Pocus” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Tickets are available online at artcenter.org/events.
For more information, go to artcenter.org/drive-in-at-csusm-faqs/.
Media Contact
Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist
bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306