South Coast Plaza a Perfect Partner

Iconic designer Paloma Picasso was there. So was the then-chairman of Tiffany, William Chaney. They were two of 560 guests celebrating the opening of Tiffany and Co. at South Coast Plaza.

It was a momentous evening for more than just the celebrated shopping destination and its newest, glittering tenant. Also in the audience for that memorable evening in 1988—SCR Founding Artistic Director David Emmes and other SCR luminaries and staff.

They too, had something to celebrate—the theatre’s 25th anniversary season and the 10th anniversary of SCR’s permanent home, sitting on land donated by South Coast Plaza and the Segerstrom family. The night raised more than $200,000 for SCR, along with putting the theatre firmly in the front row of awareness among American regional theatres.

“It was the year we won the Tony (for Outstanding Regional Theatre). All of a sudden, with Tiffany getting behind our organization, we’ve got national recognition,” Emmes said.

The night was another example of one of the most cherished relationships between an arts organization and a charitable benefactor. Since 1976, when South Coast Plaza gifted SCR the initial 1.113 acres of land for what became the Fourth Step Theatre, the charitable dynamic between South Coast Plaza and SCR has served as a blueprint for philanthropy.

South Coast Plaza is the season sponsor for SCR’s 60th season. It helped underwrite SCR’s Gala since 1980 and since 1992, has donated more than $500,000 to the theatre.

The relationship began in 1976, with that first donation of land. Along with that, came considerable support toward SCR’s $3.5 million building campaign for the Fourth Step. That became the first major capital campaign for a nonprofit theatre or organization in Orange County history. It was the first step toward creating the Orange County arts mecca you see today—and it started with SCR.

It continued through the years and into the 21^st century, when South Coast Plaza donated an additional nearly quarter-acre parcel that helped SCR fit the final piece to today’s three-theatre, state-of-the-art complex. That gift, which Emmes likened to “being given a piece of Times Square,” eventually came with a renovation drawn up by celebrated architect Cesar Pelli.

Getting Pelli to design the renovation came via the dynamic, arts-loving charisma of Henry Segerstrom, who encouraged Pelli to take on the SCR project. And it was yet another example of how enduring and how ideal this partnership is.

“The arts are important to the Segerstrom family, and important to South Coast Plaza,” Emmes said. “They’re obviously important to us as the beneficiaries. South Coast Plaza helps us attract an audience, attract leadership and attract support. It has really proven to be a wonderful relationship.”