$900,000 Pledged to Arts Center

Pledges of $900,000, including a $500,000 challenge grant, to the Orange County Performing Arts Center were announced Thursday night at the opening of a Performance Fund campaign for the Costa Mesa facility.

The campaign, aimed at raising money annually for performances and daily operations at the 8-month-old Center, is designed to meet at least a 10-year gap in funding until the Center can obtain money from a $65.7-million endowment fund, Center officials said.

Leaders of the Performance Fund campaign said they hope to raise $1 million by September to help offset a projected budget deficit of $4.1 million for the Center’s 1987-88 season. The remaining funds are expected to be raised through contributions from individuals, community support groups and underwriting campaigns already under way.

Of the funds pledged Thursday evening, $85,000 was to be paid this year, with the remainder to be donated annually by two Southern California-based corporations over the next several years.

An anonymous donor offered a challenge grant of $500,000 toward the long-term operation and performance fund.

Gen. William Lyon, recently elected vice chairman of the Performance Fund campaign, mounted the podium to read a letter from the anonymous donor stating that the promised donation would be made in cash after campaign volunteers achieve the $1-million goal for this year.

Among the donors Thursday night was Roger Johnson, chairman and CEO of Western Digital Corp., who told 175 guests gathered in the Beverly Heritage Hotel ballroom that the board of directors of the Irvine-based company has approved a donation of $300,000.

“We will give the Center $60,000 annually for five years,” said Johnson, who also is chairman of the Performance Fund’s Corporate Council. He said the council hopes to raise $500,000 by September through corporate donations of “$2,000 annually for five years.”

Gerald M. Kadish, president of San Diego-based Northview Corp. Hotels Division, owner of the Beverly Heritage Hotel, announced that the hotel and its Brandon’s Restaurant and Lounge will together donate $100,000 to the campaign in installments of $25,000 annually for four years.

The announcements came after Thomas R. Kendrick, president and chief operating officer of the Center, told guests that the Center had reached a “critical turning point.”

“What flows from here,” Kendrick said, “will greatly determine the Center’s future. We’ve gained national notice--no question of that--with our building and our programming.

“And national stature is precisely our goal. But that is not gained during a Center’s opening weeks or months; it is measured over time by the quality and range of programming. We have two sources of revenue--box office tickets and contributions from the community. To keep moving forward, we must raise at least $4 million or $5 million annually from the private sector.”

Kendrick said he and the Center’s general manager, Judith O’Dea Morr, who was married to Kendrick earlier this year, were booking high-quality programs one to three years ahead. “And if we lose the chance to continue that (through lack of funds), we lose the chance for this Center’s greatness.”

Also taking the stage during the campaign opening was real estate developer Kathryn Thompson, leader of the Performance Fund Campaign’s Community Council. Thompson said that, like the corporate council, the community council plans to raise $500,000 by September. “We, too, hope to have members of the community commit to minimum donations of $2,000 annually for five years.” The announcements came after guests had trekked gaily from the Performing Arts Center, where they had sat on stage alongside members of a 65-piece orchestra--”to know just how it feels to be a musician,” Conductor John Koshak, music director of the Orange County Philharmonic, explained.

“You’re not company presidents, vice presidents or chairmen tonight,” a smiling Koshak told the guests. “You’re musicians! But I’d better not tell you what you’d be paid.”

As the guests sat spellbound--and almost giddy, Koshak led the orchestra in selections from “Carmen” by Georges Bizet, “The Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky, “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” by John Philip Sousa.

At one point, Koshak invited a few guests to play the percussion instruments at the rear of the stage. Marilyn Nielsen and Susan Strader were given triangles to clink. Timothy Strader, vice chairman of the Center board’s executive committee, was assigned to the kettledrums. “Watch the conductor now,” Koshak ordered. “It’s not enough just to be cute.”

Then Lyon was invited to take the conductor’s baton. “Don’t get excited,” Lyon told guests, doffing his jacket and tie.

“You don’t have to strip , general , “ Koshak said.

After Lyon affected a Mehta-esque pose, he told the orchestra he was left-handed: “So, all of you on the right will need to move to the left, and all of you on the left will need to move to the right,” he said jokingly. “And Strader : This is my debut. Don’t mess it up!

“Now, all I know is that every once in awhile I’m supposed to do this,” Lyon deadpanned, flipping a page of music with an exaggerated flourish. After directing the orchestra--with flailing arms--for a few of minutes, Lyon gave the baton a cavalier toss over his left shoulder and into the orchestra pit.