Foundation unveils theater plans

Noaki Schwartz

BALBOA PENINSULA -- In the same room where a small group of residents

formed the Balboa Theater Foundation years ago, they gathered Wednesday

night and triumphantly presented the first glimpse of the drawings for

the refurbished theater.

“It went really well,” foundation president Dayna Pettit said of the

Speak Up Newport meeting, which was held at the Riverboat Restaurant.

“They were all amazed at what we’ve accomplished.”

One issue discussed at the meeting was how the foundation plans to

resolve the theater’s seating dilemma. In order to make enough money, the

theater will need to have more than 300 seats. But that will be tricky

because of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which requires, among

other things, wider aisles.

Foundation executive director Michelle Roberge also is determined that

each patron has a great view of the stage and that the seats

aesthetically correspond with the theater’s 1920s charm.

Although Disney generously donated 400 seats, they are cumbersome

screening room chairs -- far too big for the theater’s quaint interior.

While most theater seats are 18 inches wide, the Disney seats are 24

inches. Because of their size, the foundation is considering selling them

and using the money to purchase more appropriate chairs.

Foundation members also explored ideas for fund-raising. While it was

initially estimated that the theater would cost $1 million -- a rather

naive estimation Roberge conceded -- the group now realizes it will need

to raise an additional $2.5 million.

“We thought we’d try a big campaign for the community,” Roberge said. “We

want to get as many people from the community involved as possible.”

The millennium fund-raiser they are planning will be called “2,000 in

2000.” If 2000 people donate $1,000, the theater will have raised $2

million, Roberge explained. The foundation plans to give each donor part

of a large 2,000-piece puzzle. A replica of the puzzle will hang in the

finished theater’s lobby with every donor’s name on it.

“[This effort] was done through the community’s initiative, and we really

want to acknowledge that,” said Roberge.

The foundation will release more architectural drawings at a press

conference in two weeks, Roberge said.