by Anne Valdespino
Orange County Register
California Arts Council Chairman Wylie Aitken surprised his wife and the crowd with a $250,000 gift to the capital campaign at Saturday night’s grand opening of the Chance Theater’s new space in Anaheim. The five-month campaign raised $573,746 for the theater’s expansion.
“This building will bear the name Chance Theater at the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center,” said Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait.
“I’m speechless. I’m overwhelmed,” said Bette Aitken, the wife of the high-powered Anaheim trial lawyer, a longtime patron of the arts in Orange County. “I’ve never had an honor like this in my life.”
The theater begins its 16th season in its new home a few doors down from its previous space in a strip mall near La Palma Avenue and Imperial Highway. The ribbon-cutting marked the completion of the first phase of the 6,000-square-foot, 99-seat theater’s capital campaign.
Phases 2 and 3 will raise funds to house a scene shop, classrooms, extra rehearsal space, a possible cabaret and more in a 3,000-square-foot expansion — everything necessary to become a “professional midsize regional theater,” said founding artistic director Oanh Nguyen.
“I can’t stop smiling,” Nguyen said. “What a great way to start our 16th season.”
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