100 Groups Wait to Play Irvine Theatre

More than 100 community-based organizations want the chance to put on a show at the planned Irvine Theatre, according to a usage survey conducted by the theater’s operating company. If not for the theater, some say, they might either have to leave Irvine or stop growing.

“A major part of our goal is to serve local performing groups,” says general manager Douglas C. Rankin, citing the Irvine Valley Theatrefaire for Children and the Irvine Academy of Performing Arts as two that would have to consider leaving Irvine or stop growing unless they can make use of the theater.

The theater would also “showcase regional and national performers in an intimate setting, and advance UC Irvine’s educational and creative objectives,” says Rankin, who would have final responsibility for the programming.

Design plans call for an overall 55,000-square-foot facility with a 48,000-square-foot theater and a smaller studio rehearsal space that could seat 125 to 150 people. If construction costs come in too high, Rankin says, the smaller hall could be eliminated.

The operating company has yet to project a budget, but Rankin estimates that “it will be in the neighborhood of $1 million a year; we hope less.” The operating expenses would be financed by earned income (hall rent, box-office sales) and interest earned by “a $6-million endowment that we expect to create.”

Any operating deficit would be borne by the city of Irvine, which would pay two-thirds, and UCI, which would cover the rest. “Our goal is to make the theater self-supporting,” Rankin says. However, he anticipates a $300,000 deficit in the first year, at least.