Key Gift by Oscar-Winner Is No Act

Oscar-winning actress Claire Trevor Bren announced Thursday she has donated $500,000 toward the renovation of UC Irvine’s student theater, part of a massive $23.7-million upgrade of the university’s school of the arts.

Her gift makes possible the completion of a $2.7-million modernization of the 30-year-old Village Theatre, where student plays, concerts and dance performances are staged for the public.

“I believe in young people today, and the theater is one place to develop your imagination,” the 88-year-old actress said in announcing her gift from the stage of the 400-seat theater, which will be renamed in her honor.

“Before they face reality, they can soar,” said Bren, who became misty-eyed when five UCI theater students thanked her by serenading her with show tunes, including Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top.”

The Newport Beach philanthropist made her Broadway debut when she was 11. She won an Academy Award in 1948 for her supporting role in “Key Largo” and appeared in more than 60 films with such stars as Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne.

She is the stepmother of Donald Bren, chairman of the Irvine Co., one of Orange County’s largest developers.

The renovation will give the theater a lobby for the first time, reupholstered seats and a reconfigured proscenium. The work is scheduled to begin in the fall and be completed a year and a half later.

Other improvements, to be financed with $1.5 million in campus construction funds and $700,000 in state education bonds, include acoustic and structural upgrades and new theatrical equipment, school officials said.

“We need to improve the visibility of the theater,” said Jill Beck, dean of UCI’s school of the arts. “The name of such a prominent actress will be a boon to our ability to promote our events.”

The hall will continue to be used mostly for student shows, Beck said. Professional troupes perform on campus at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, which is jointly funded by the university, the city of Irvine, and the theater’s operations.

The Village Theatre renovation is one piece of a larger, $23.7-million upgrade of UCI’s arts school, most of which surrounds a plaza at the north end of the campus. Work has begun on $3.5 million in seismic renovations, as well as on the construction of a $6-million music building.

Bond funds also will pay for those projects, as well as two new buildings for dance, drama and studio art instruction. Construction of those two buildings, which will cost $5 million each, is expected to be completed by 2005, Beck said.

UCI also will expand and add a high-tech multimedia center to its public art gallery with a $1.5-million gift from Rockwell International Corp. on behalf of its former chief, Donald R. Beall.

That’s the largest single private donation to the arts school.

Construction of the multimedia center is expected to be completed next year.

“There hasn’t been enough . . . public outreach” to make the school accessible and welcoming to the greater community, Beck said.

Claire Trevor Bren, who was joined by her stepson for Thursday’s announcement, praised UCI’s “wonderful drama department.”

It is the largest single donation she has made, she said, and gave credit for it to Donald Bren.

“He makes everything possible,” she said, clasping his hand.

Donald Bren, who has given millions of dollars in gifts and land to the university, smiled.

“The jewel stone, if you will, of Orange County is UC Irvine,” he said.