Chance Theater dedicates new second stage space
The expansion into a new second stage space announced by Chance Theater in late October was heralded by a dedication ceremony on Saturday night.
Scheduled to coincide with the opening-night gala of “Loch Ness, a new musical,” the ceremony was attended by Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, many City Council members and a slew of special guests.
Notable invitees included Orange County arts patrons Bette and Wylie Aitken, whose 2013 donation of $250,000 prompted the 16-year-old theater company to rename its venue on La Palma Avenue in Anaheim Hills the Chance Theater at Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center.
The event began at 5 p.m. with an open house. Delayed by a brief rainstorm, the formal dedication included remarks by Chance managing director Casey Long; South Coast Repertory co-founding artistic director Martin Benson; Scott Well, Chance Theater’s new board chairman; and Chance co-founding artist and artistic director Oanh Nguyen.
The evening’s key announcement came from community leader Tod White and board vice chairman Larry Cripe. Cripe, who is chairman of Chance’s ongoing capital campaign, noted that when the theater first set its fundraising goals, it didn’t select unrealistic levels into the millions of dollars. Instead, it arrived at the “reasonable goal” of $770,000.
Cripe said that to date, $620,000 has been raised, leaving “still a bit of a gap.” Providing “the solution,” Cripe said, is White, who then announced that since the theater needs $150,000, “We’ve put together a $75,000 challenge grant.”
So for every dollar donated to Chance between now and Aug. 29, the date of the theater’s annual gala, the theater will receive two dollars.
The evening’s second major announcement came from the Aitkens. After stating that the new space will create “a rebirth of what this theater is all about,” Wylie Aitken said he and wife Bette are donating an additional $25,000 toward the capital campaign.
Along with the Aitkens, Cripe and wife Sophie and White and wife Linda are among the three highest naming donors to the theater’s ongoing capital campaign. The Cripes have given $50,000 and the Whites $40,000.
Six other couples and three individuals are also among those who have given at least $10,000 to Chance and whose names now appear on plaques located in various areas (lobby, green room, etc.) of the venue.
The dedication concluded with the unveiling of the new marquee, designed by prominent Southern California scenic designer Bradley Kaye. Guests also received a tour of the new 3,000-square-foot space, slated to include the 49-seat second stage, dressing rooms, a rehearsal space, a dance studio and a scene shop.
Since the space, connected to the existing lobby by a short passageway, is still under construction, the Feb. 20 to March 8 run of “Alice in Wonderland,” the first show scheduled for the second stage, has been postponed to March 19-29. Run dates of the year’s four remaining second-stage shows remain unaltered by the delay.
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