Gem Gets Chance to Shine Again : Theater: Garden Grove City Council votes to give a contract and seed money to an arts entrepreneur, who has begun talks with small companies.

In an effort to foster the arts here, the City Council has put the Gem Theatre and the Festival Amphitheatre under new management with an agreement calling for 175 performances a year at the city-owned complex, including at least six full theatrical productions.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday night to award a three-year contract and $32,000 in seed money to Kevin Cochran, the 34-year-old arts entrepreneur who could not save the facilities’ former resident company, GroveShakespeare, from going belly-up last year after it had collapsed as a viable troupe.

Cochran said Wednesday that his company likely would be called the Grove Theater Center, which also would serve as the new name of the theater complex, pending city approval. Cochran said he has “initial understandings” with a handful of small producing organizations to present comedy, dance, folk music, jazz, children’s theater and musicals as “companies in residence.” His own company will produce plays.

“We will have a production up definitely before the New Year and possibly by mid-fall,” he said.

*

Probable resident companies include the Musical Theatre Co., which produced “A Little Night Music” at the Gem last spring; Clean Comedians; Company Dance Unltd.; Jim Vaughan Jazz Productions; the Imagination Company, and Acoustic Muse. Visiting troupes could make use of the facilities as well. Cochran said he also hopes to open a coffee shop in the Gem.

The city had advertised nationally for proposals to manage the theaters and received seven “letters of interest” but only three proposals. Two groups touted early on--East West Players, a Los Angeles-based troupe, and the drama department of Chapman University in Orange--dropped out of the running before submitting proposals.

“Kevin’s plan was the most comprehensive,” city manager George L. Tindall said.

The council’s unanimity in offering seed money for operating the theater complex came as something of a surprise because of a long history of deep divisions over the funding of cultural and arts groups by the city.

“What was nice about the vote was the support from all five council members,” deputy city manager Mike Fenderson said.

In fact, the money awarded to Cochran is only a fraction of the amount to be spent on reviving the Gem and the amphitheater. The city has authorized $400,000 for renovations of both facilities from funds provided by its redevelopment agency. About $100,000 already has been spent on new office, rehearsal and storage space.