Couple Give Their Name, $1 Million to Arts Plaza Theater

Capping months of feverish fund-raising, the Alliance for the Arts announced Tuesday that a North Ranch family has donated $1 million to the Civic Arts Plaza.

The names of Janet and Ray Scherr will go up on what is now known as the Forum Theatre--the 400-seat auditorium that hosts City Council meetings as well as plays and musical performances.

The Scherrs’ donation is the second-largest to the Civic Arts Plaza from an individual family. It brings the Alliance for the Arts--the plaza’s fund-raising arm--within $1 million of its goal to raise $15 million by the end of the year.

The donation is “a fabulous gift,” said Deborah Duclon, an alliance board member. “They’re active in the community; they’re truly philanthropic.”

Within weeks, the Forum Theatre will receive a new sign reading “The Janet and Ray Scherr Theatre.” Tickets and brochures will reflect the change immediately.

California residents since 1971, the Scherrs are active in charitable organizations, including Agoura’s Temple Beth Haverim and the United Jewish Federation.

The former owner of the Guitar Center chain of music stores, Ray Scherr founded the Hollywood RockWalk, which honors musical innovators.

“To maintain the legacy of bringing fine arts to this community, we must all share in the responsibility for the benefit of our children and future generations,” Janet Scherr said in a news release.

During the past few months, the alliance has received $4 million in donations that help pay for programming at the City Hall / performing arts complex.

In addition to the Scherrs, businessman Fred Kavli donated $2.5 million and his name to the main theater. G.H. and Diane Jones gave $500,000 and their names to the plaza’s reflecting pool.