Center Fund still growing

James Meier

The Orange County Performing Arts Center had, like one of its

shows, a “Blast” during its 2001-02 season.

Preliminary figures released Tuesday revealed once again that,

despite a less than terrific economy, contributions to the art

venue’s Center Fund exceeded $7 million.

President Jerry E. Mandel said the great news is a sign of things

to come, as well.

“It was a wonderful year. Given the state of the world, I’m

delighted with how we came out,” he said. “We exceeded our goals in

terms of ticket sales and fund-raising.... We’re projecting growth in

both areas next year.”

Already looking ahead to the 2002-03 season, Mandel said he

expects the Center to do even better in terms of ticket sales next

year as the venue will feature its most performances yet, 380.

Last season, however, the Center had to settle for 309, or 30 less

than the previous year, because of renovations, including those to

the orchestra shell. The nonprofit venue recorded about $3.6 million

less in ticket revenue, said Todd Bentjen, vice president of

marketing and communications for the Center.

“It’s entirely a function of the fact that we had less

performances this year,” he said. “After 16 years, we needed to take

a breather and do some repairs to the theater.”

But Bentjen pointed out that the year ended “strong enough” to

transfer $675,000 to the Center’s Endowment Fund and $200,000 to a

reserve for future education and programming programs.

Bentjen, too, said the Center should see continued success next

season.

“We’ll certainly have more people, more programs and more

performances and that’s a good thing because that’s what we do,” he

said.

Outgoing Chairman Roger T. Kirwan also announced at the Center’s

annual meeting of members Tuesday that the fund-raising effort to

build the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, a music theater

and the Samueli Plaza has reached half of its $200-million goal.

Kirwan said he’ll take what the Center can get.

“As with any kind of fund-raising, we wish we were at 100%, but

we’ll take that,” he said. “We hoped to be further along, but we are

very pleased in view of the economy.”

Construction will begin in January, with an opening expected in

2005, Mandel said.

“The problem is we don’t have enough space,” he said.

The expansion will solve that. With two more halls, the Center

will have longer runs of Broadway shows and will expand the dance

program.

“Everything we do will grow,” he said.

Kirwan on Tuesday also awarded the annual Chairman’s Cup. Pat

Paus, a member of the board who Mandel described as “super woman, the

kind of woman you want to have on your board,” received this year’s

honor.

The chairman award goes to a volunteer who provides extraordinary

effort to the organization, Mandel said. Paul Folino, chairman and

chief executive of Costa Mesa-based Emulex, was named the new Center

board chairman.