Lease would open theater to new group

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Just a few weeks ago, city officials were braced for

a drawn-out fight.

On one side of the battle line stood members of a long-established

group that had managed the city-owned Newport Theatre Arts Center on

Cliff Drive for several decades. The nonprofit organization, called

Friends of the Newport Theatre Arts Center, has spent more than $100,000

to remodel the 90-seat theater and puts on about six productions a year.

On the other, suddenly appearing in late February, were members of a

newly formed children’s theater company. They filed into Newport Beach’s

City Council chambers, armed with musical tunes such as Judy Garland’s

rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and pleaded with the city’s

leaders to let them use the theater and not give an exclusive, 10-year

lease to the group currently in charge of the venue.

At the time, Rae Cohen, the president of the center group, had said

that she couldn’t open the theater to other organizations. While Cohen’s

group only uses the center 112 to 120 days per year, she said actors and

set designers needed the auditorium for rehearsals and construction the

rest of the time.

Now, city officials and representatives for both theater groups seem

to have reached a compromise that works for all parties involved. While a

proposed management agreement will put Cohen’s group in charge of the

center’s operations and programming for at least the next decade, three

two-week periods will be reserved for outside groups each year.

Council members are likely to approve the agreement at their meeting

tonight.

Linda Safran, a member of the children’s group, called Newport Beach

Theater Company, had asked council members to reject the exclusive lease.

She said Monday that she’s not even going to attend tonight’s meeting.

Instead, she’ll work with her young actors to prepare for a May 5

fund-raising gala at the center and thank city officials at a later date.

“We’re moving ahead,” she said, adding that city officials had

promised her group the three time slots for the 2001-2002 season.

Council members said they were equally pleased that the controversy

had come to a happy ending.

“I feel we’ve hit a home run,” said Councilman Steve Bromberg.

While in future years other groups could apply for the two-week

periods as well, Safran’s company will be given preferential treatment

since the group was the first to ask, Bromberg said.

Cohen said the agreement seemed workable, adding that her group would

have to cut down on time for set construction and rehearsal time from now

on.

FYI

Moss Hart’s comedy “Light up the Sky” is showing at the center through

April 29. Information: (939) 631-0288

For information on the children’s fund-raising gala, call (949)

759-1046