Philanthropy - May 2009

Fearns: Stepping Up Again

SCR Trustee Valerie Fearns and her husband Geoff had such a good time when they helped underwrite Hitchcock Blonde three years ago, that they knew they had to do it again. So this season they are Honorary Producers for SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson’s revival of Collected Stories by Donald Margulies.

“He’s a legend,” said Geoff Fearns, of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. “First of all, we really enjoy his work. Brooklyn Boy was tremendous. We’ve seen his other plays, too, and have just loved them.”’

Valerie and Geoffrey Fearns at the 2007 Gala.

Geoff and Valerie have been SCR subscribers and donors for more than 20 years. They attend First Nights on both stages, are members of the Platinum Circle and are Gala underwriters. Geoff said that the last time they were Honorary Producers, Valerie particularly enjoyed the benefit, afforded to underwriters, to attend rehearsals. He predicted she would be there again to watch Collected Stories take shape.

“She was fascinated by seeing how the play evolves and having the opportunity to meet the cast and crew. If you enjoy the theatre, it is just a great peak inside of what is really involved in taking something from the page and making it into a theatrical production.”

Act Now for SCR Challenge - Update

The Board of Trustees Challenge Campaign: Act Now for SCR has passed the halfway mark — and more!  Thanks to the generosity of the theatre’s supporters, $139,932 has been raised toward $160,000 to help meet the Act Now goal.

The Challenge Campaign was launched in March to offset the unprecedented decline of endowment income and donations from corporations — the result of the severe economic downturn. Monies raised for this challenge will be put directly to work in artistic programming, going toward the bread and butter of live theatre and assuring the continuation of outstanding plays, with the best actors, directors and designers.

For those who have not yet donated and wish to take part in the continuation of great theatre, The Challenge continues through June 30, with every new or increased donation to SCR matched dollar for dollar, up to $160,000 by the theatre’s Trustees.

So it’s not too late to join other Orange Countians who stand with SCR during these challenging times in support of great theatre. No gift is too small, and there are three easy ways to help:  by phone at (714) 708-5501; by mail at 655 Town Center Dr., PO Box 2197, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-2197; and online at www.scr.org. The online site also includes an Honor Roll of the hundreds of donors who have stepped forward to help us meet the challenge.

See the lists of donors here.

Nothing But Blue Skies

There’ll be “Nothing But Blue Skies” for South Coast Repertory at the theatre’s Gala Ball on September 12.  In fact, that was the overwhelming choice for the fundraising event’s title, announced at the Gala Committee meeting on SCR’s Julianne Argyros Stage March 25.

“I think it’s the perfect title for what will be a fabulous party,” said Gala Chair Bette Aitken, and Committee members agreed.  “Our Gala will reflect the spirit of the Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire movie Blue Skies — with all of its grand Irving Berlin songs — but this party will have the advantage of being produced by the wonderful artists here at SCR.”

Blue Skies was filmed during Hollywood’s Golden Age, when movie musicals were a much-needed distraction after the Great Depression and the Second World War.  Those films boosted everyone’s spirits, and the Gala Committee expects “Nothing But Blue Skies” to do the same, as it opens the social and theatrical seasons with an uplifting event for Orange County.

Gala Co-Chairs are Sophie Cripe, Underwriting; Marlene Hamontree and Teri Kennady, Cuisine; Betty Huang and Danuta Schenke, Décor; Donna Cohn and Elaine Weinberg, Entertainment; Pam Muzzy and

Sophie Cripe, Pam Muzzy, Laurie Smits Staude, Nancy Kelley, Danuta Schenke and Bette Aitken.

Nancy Kelley, Graphics; Ashleigh Aitken, Valerie Fearns and Laurie Smits Staude, Hospitality.

Other Committee members are Julianne Argyros, Randy Morrison Baird, Toni Berlinger, Dede Brink, Ishani Dillon, Gail Doe, Susan Ehrlich, Patricia Ellis, Daranne Folino, Kathryn Glassmyer, Nadine Hall, Dee Higby, Linda Hovee, Jan Seitz Jashinski, Olivia Johnson, Joan Kaloustian, Linda Maggard, Diana Martin, Pat Neisser, Stacey Nicholas, Beth Phelps, Barbara Roberts, Melody Robinson, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Debbie Simon, Connie Spenuzza, Ardelle St. George, Jane Taylor, Kathy Taylor, Julie Ann Ulcickas and Jean Weiss.

The 31st Annual Gala will be held at The Balboa Bay Club & Resort on September 12.  For more information, call Lauren Hovey at (714) 708-5504 or lauren@scr.org.

Thanks from SCR

Friends of SCR play an important role in SCR’s success and stability. The corporations and individuals listed below have contributed $2,500 or more to this season’s Annual Fund. These gifts are helping SCR to be one of the finest theatres in America. We are deeply grateful for their support.

Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. • Mary Beth Adderley-Wright & Richard Wright • Bette & Wylie Aitken • Allergan Foundation • Andrew W. Mellon Foundation • George & Julianne Argyros • Leona Aronoff-Sadacca • Fernando H. Austin MD • Automobile Club of Southern California • Bank of America • Bank of America Foundation • Ms. Helen R. Barker • Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Bein • Martin & Wendy Benson • Steve & Toni Berlinger • Carol & Michael E. Bertolino • The Boeing Company • Carol & Walt Boice • Howard & Dede Brink • Elizabeth & Joseph Broderick • Mary Ann Brown • Wayne & Dolores Browning • California First National Bancorp • Canterbury Consulting • Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation • Bridget Carpenter • Mary & John Carrington • David & Suzanne Chonette • The Citigroup Private Bank • Citizens Business Bank • City National Bank • Patty & Hubie Clark • Rich & Donna Cohn • Mr. & Mrs. H. Joseph Cornyn • Sophie Hall & Lawrence Arden Cripe • Mr. & Mrs. Gerald C. Crowther/Crowther-Prentiss Corporation • Mr. John Dalis • Sandra & John Daniels • Bobbi & Jerry Dauderman • Deloitte • The Dirk Family & Troy Group, Inc. • Gail & Ernie Doe • Donna Karan New York • William J. & Elana Donovan • Jane & Jim Driscoll • Steve & Laurie Duncan • Dynamic Air Engineering • Edgerton Foundation • Edwards Lifesciences • Susan & Robert Ehrlich • Robert & LaDorna Eichenberg • Patricia W. Ellis • Paula Tomei & David Emmes • Employees Community Fund of Boeing • Michael Ermer • Ernst & Young, LLP • Geoffrey & Valerie Fearns • The Fieldstone Foundation • Maryann R. Finley • Arden Flamson • Paul, Daranne & Courtney Folino • Elizabeth George Foundation • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP • Goldman Sachs • Ed & Susan Gotschall • Helen & John Guiltinan • H. Lawrence Webb & Janet S. Hadley • Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Hall • Marlene & Sam E. Hamontree • Hampton Products International • Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust •

Maralou & Jerry Harrington • Haskell & White LLP • Gary & Debera Hendricks • Larry & Dee Higby • Clark Higgins, Falcon Leadership Group • Bob & Mimi Holcombe • Robert J. & Ursula M. Hoshaw • Patricia & Chester Houston • Linda & Robert A. Hovee • Dr. S.L. & Betty Eu Huang/Huang Family Foundation • The James Irvine Foundation • VerLyn & Diane Jensen • Olivia & A. Andrew Johnson • Jones Day • Damien & Yvonne Jordan • Michelle & Robert Kargenian • Joanne & Dennis Keith • Nancy & Kim Kelley • Teri Kennady/Eric Hyman • Dorothy & Don Kennedy • Kenneth A. Lester Family Foundation • Kiehl’s Since 1851 • Kingston Technology • Bill & Carolyn Klein • Dori Koll • KPMG, LLP • Peter & Bonnie Kremer • Joann Leatherby & Dr. Greg Bates • Lockie & Clark Leonard • Marc Levin • Jack & Isabelle Lindquist • Makar Properties, LLC • Manatt Phelps & Phillips, LLP • Charles D. & Twyla R. Martin • Matthew E. & Bernice L. Massengill • Marilyn McIntyre • Merrill Lynch & Co. • Nancy & Michael Meyer • Mikimoto • Denise Caciagli & Michael J. Moon • John & Sue Murphy • Pam & Jim Muzzy • Carl & Pat Neisser • Ms. Stacey Nicholas • The Nicholas Endowment • Nordstrom • Mr. & Mrs. John D. O’Donnell • Orange County Community Foundation • Pacific Life Foundation • Eileen & William Passo • Dr. Ronald O. & Donna J. Phelps • Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Phelps • Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Plumleigh • PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP • Ringler Associates • Bill & Barbara Roberts • Thomas B. Rogers & Sarah J. Anderson • Michelle Rohe • Rolex - South Coast Plaza • The Samueli Foundation • Malcolm Schneer • Nola Schneer • Hal & Melody Schultz • Schweickert & Company • Mr. & Mrs. Henry T. Segerstrom • The Segerstrom Foundation • Jan Seitz Jashinski • Mrs. Peggie Shedd • Heidi & Rick Sherman • Dr. Domenic & Blanca Signorelli • SingerLewak • Ron & Marilyn Sion • Alan & Olivia Slutzky • Laurie Smits Staude • Mr. & Mrs. Ronald E. Soderling • South Coast Plaza • Peter & Connie Spenuzza • Nancy & Geoffrey Stack • John & Elizabeth Stahr • Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Elizabeth Steele Fund • Sue & Ralph Stern • Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth • Tom & Marilyn Sutton • Target • Richard P. & Jane Taylor • Peter & Mary Tennyson • Thomas & Joyce Tucker • Socorro & Ernesto Vasquez • Mr. & Mrs. John Walker • Elaine J. Weinberg • Marci Maietta Weinberg & William Weinberg • Jean & Tim Weiss • Wells Fargo Bank • Linda & Tod White • William Gillespie Foundation • Tom & Vina Williams Slattery • Wilmington Trust FSB • Eric & Cynthia Wittenberg • Linda & Bob Yellin