STAGE

James Resigns: Mum’s the word in Long Beach following the sudden resignation of Gordon James, the recently appointed chief executive officer of the Long Beach Civic Light Opera. The resignation, announced at a board meeting Wednesday, drew “no comments” Thursday from opera company officials. A prepared statement said that James had resigned for “personal as well as career development needs,” but his appointment earlier this year had raised eyebrows in some quarters. He had preceded Lee Anderson as chairman of the Long Beach board and had been a prolific fund-raiser for the organization on a volunteer basis. Former board members and others in the Long Beach arts community had voiced surprise and even indignation that James would be paid to do what he had done for free. A search committee has been set up to find a replacement.