SCR tops out

Young Chang

Act one of South Coast Repertory’s expansion closed Friday as the

final steel beam, signed by more than 100 donors, workers and staff

members, was placed on top of the three-story building that will open in

October as the new Julianne Argyros Stage.

At an outdoor “Topping Out” ceremony, board members and theater

leaders also announced the beginning of the expansion project’s second

act -- an increased fund-raising goal of $50 million to support the

theater’s new and growing artistic programs.

“This is kind of the hardware,” said Paul Folino, SCR’s board

president and campaign chairman, as he pointed to the theater being built

behind him. “But where’s the software? We’re strategically looking at

programming, and we felt we needed to, from a campaign standpoint, move

to phase two.”

The first phase of the five-year campaign included a $40-million goal

-- $38 million of which has been raised -- and the building of the

additional Argyros stage.

The expansion and endowment project includes the 336-seat Argyros

theater, the expansion of the current Second Stage into a 99-seat

multipurpose space to be renamed the Nicholas Studio, a remodeling of the

Mainstage into the Segerstrom Stage and a complex of offices and

classrooms within these buildings.

The growing fund-raising goal reflects that the first phase of the

expansion had “tremendous momentum,” said co-artistic director David

Emmes. And with a year and a half left in the campaign, SCR’s leaders are

looking to deepen their programs while expanding their space.

Initiatives to benefit from the campaign funds include the Theater’s

for Young Audiences series, the Educational Touring Production, the

Theater’s Discovery Project, the Young Conservatory productions and

Neighborhood Conservatory scholarships.

The funds will also create a permanent endowment for SCR’s major

commissions so that regardless of changes in the economy and the climate

of supporting foundations, the programs will be consistently funded.

Now, endowments help SCR’s commissions, but support from foundations

play a big role.

“And we want to support the artists, increase salaries, fees, and to

continue to attract increasing numbers of outstanding artists,” Emmes

said.

The programs’ leaders plan to use the money to help the actors and

staff, and also the people who come to watch. Through a free-ticket

program with the program series, SCR leaders hope to attract children who

might not otherwise be able to attend a show.

“We’re in a terrific position to do something very, very special for

Theater’s,” Folino said.

* Young Chang writes features. She may be reached at (949) 574-4268 or

by e-mail at o7 young.chang@latimes.comf7 .