Bette Aitken News

Chance Theater hosted a 'Design Preview Party' for its upcoming production of IN THE HEIGHTS, which starts performances on July 3. The 'Design Preview Party' is a special event that Chance Theater offers its members and VIP guests. It gives an exclusive group of patrons an opportunity to get an early glimpse at what the theater has in store, as well as meet the artists who will be working on and off the stage on the next show. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Chance Theater will present the third show of its 16th Anniversary Season -- the groundbreaking 21st century musical, In The Heights. Written by Pulitzer Finalists Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes, with direction by Chance Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen, choreography by resident artist Kelly Todd and music direction by Robyn Wallace. In The Heights will preview from July 3 through 10, regular performances will begin July 11 and continue through August 3 at Chance Theater at Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Last year, Chance Theater Resident Playwright Marshall Pailet directed his show, Triassic Parq - The Musical, which went on to win the Ovation Award for 'Best Musical - Intimate Theatre.' He also presented two other staged readings as part of our On The Radar New Play Series - Who's Your Baghdaddy or How I Started the Iraq War and a brand new creation - Loch Ness. The show was so new, in fact, that it wasn't even finished yet... until now. The staged reading of the newly complete Loch Ness will perform for one night only - tonight, May 13 at 8pm at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center.

Chance Theater presents the second show of its 16th Anniversary Season - the humorous and inventive glimpse behind-the-scenes of the traditional Passion play produced in three distinctively different locations and times. Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize Finalist Sarah Ruhl, with direction by Trevor Biship (director of Chance's Ovation Award-winning Jerry Springer: The Opera). Passion Play opens tonight, May 3 and continues through May 25 at Chance Theater at Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chance Theater presents the second show of its 16th Anniversary Season - the humorous and inventive glimpse behind-the-scenes of the traditional Passion play produced in three distinctively different locations and times. Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize Finalist Sarah Ruhl, with direction by Trevor Biship (director of Chance's Ovation Award-winning Jerry Springer: The Opera). Passion Play will preview now through May 2, open May 3 and continue through May 25 at Chance Theater at Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Last year, Chance Theater Resident Playwright Marshall Pailet directed his show, Triassic Parq - The Musical, which went on to win the Ovation Award for "Best Musical - Intimate Theatre." He also presented two other staged readings as part of our On The Radar New Play Series - Who's Your Baghdaddy or How I Started the Iraq War and a brand new creation - Loch Ness. The show was so new, in fact, that it wasn't even finished yet… until now. The staged reading of the newly complete Loch Ness will perform for one night only - Tuesday, May 13 at 8pm at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center.

Chance Theater has announced its sixth and final production for its 2014 Season - an original musical celebration for the holidays, A Celtic Holiday with Craic in the Stone. Written by resident artists Jocelyn A. Brown, David McCormick, James McHale, Jennifer Ruckman and Bill Strongin, along with Aimee Gomez, Karen O'Hanlon and Scott B. Well. A Celtic Holiday with Craic in the Stone will preview on Tue, December 9. The press performance is on December 10. Regular performances begin December 11 and continue through December 23 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater is officially announcing the performance line-up for our third annual 24hr Chance-a-thon, which will take place today, March 22 from 10am-11pm, and Sunday, March 23 from 9am-10pm.

Chance Theater presents the second show of its 16th Anniversary Season - the humorous and inventive glimpse behind-the-scenes of the traditional Passion play produced in three distinctively different locations and times. Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize Finalist Sarah Ruhl, with direction by Trevor Biship (director of Chance's Ovation Award-winning Jerry Springer: The Opera). Passion Play will preview from April 25 through May 2, open May 3 and continue through May 25 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center.

Chance Theater is officially announcing the performance line-up for our third annual 24hr Chance-a-thon, which will take place on Saturday, March 22 from 10am-11pm, and Sunday, March 23 from 9am-10pm.

What do you get when you mash-up an ancient Greek play with the contemporary, meta-sarcasm of Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, and Bring It On? Why, the buoyant musical confection LYSISTRATA JONES, of course! Filled with witty dialogue, amusingly droll characters, and a high-energy pop score, this Tony nominated musical continues its West Coast Premiere performances at Chance Theater's brand-spankin' new theater space in Anaheim Hills through March 9.

Chance Theater is accepting proposals from artists and community members interested in performing in support of Chance's artistic and educational programs at the 24hr Chance-a-thon, which will take place from 10am-10pm on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23.

At Saturday's grand opening of Chance Theater's Bold New Home, Wylie Aitken, a major arts supporter and chair of the California Arts Council, announced that he has made a $250,000 contribution to name the new home of the Chance after his lovely wife, Bette Aitken. The new name will be the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center. The official dedication ceremony will be scheduled soon.

Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.

Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.

Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.

Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.

At South Coast Repertory's Annual Meeting on July 28, Board President Wylie A. Aitken announced that the theatre had ended its 46th consecutive season in the black and introduced the slate of officers for 2010-11, headed by incoming President Thomas D. Phelps. The unanimously elected executive committee, along with nine new Board members, will lead the theatre during its 47th Season.

The following is South Coast Rep's calendar. South Coast Repertory was founded in the belief that theatre is an artform with a unique power to illuminate the human experience. We commit ourselves to exploring the most urgent human and social issues of our time, and to merging literature, design and performance in ways that test the bounds of theatre's artistic possibilities. We undertake to advance the art of theatre in the service of our community, and aim to extend that service through educational, intercultural, and outreach programs that harmonize with our artistic mission.