Thank you to everyone who stepped up with donations (big and small!) since Giving Tuesday to help us raise valuable funds that will be instrumental in how we are able to approach 2023, enabling us to do more for our community. Your genuine friendship is exactly the inspiration we need. We promise to continue our vigorous pursuit of creating a more compassionate, connected, and creative community through the production of thrilling theater, empowering education & outreach programs, and the development of new stories and musicals.
Your generosity fills our hearts with gratitude and gives us so much positive energy! Thank you. A thousand times!
Raise one more glass for highlights from 2022:
- We produced 7 shows in the last 12 months, 3 of which were produced in this area for the first time. Plus, every Main Series production was OCTG Recommended.
- We presented 5 staged readings and 1 workshop production as part of our OTR New Works Series, one of which — Matinicus: The Story of Abigail Burgess — will have its world premiere at the Chance in 2023.
- Colonialism is Terrible, But Phở is Delicious (a play developed in our OTR New Works Program during the COVID-19 shutdown as a co-production with Aurora Theatre Company) opened in Berkeley in November as the first leg in a 3-theater rolling world premiere. Our very own Artistic Director Oánh Nguyễn helmed the production, just like he will at the Chance this season and in Oregon later this year. PLUS… the show was named “Best of 2022” for Bay Area stage shows by Marin Independent Journal!
- We won 8 OC Theatre Guild Awards, including “Outstanding Production of a Musical” and four acting awards… read more
- StageSceneLA recognized us with 18 Scenie Awards, including one for “Year’s Best Intimate Theater” and “Outstanding Production” awards for Edges, Striking 12, Next to Normal, and Cry It Out… read more
- Orange Curtain Review named Cry It Out, Green Day’s American Idiot, and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity as some of the Best of 2022 …read more
- Star of Cry It Out (and Chance Resident Artist) Amanda Zarr won the Orange Curtain Award for Best Actress.
- Our 16th annual Teens Speak Up summer theater camp had its highest enrollment yet over two separate sessions, resulting in a combined original show completely written by its junior high and high school student participants.
- For the fourth straight year, we partnered with OC Asperger’s Support Group to present the Spectrum Speak Up summer program, specifically designed for teens who have been diagnosed with high-functioning Autism, Asperger’s or PDD-NOS to help them find their unique voice and talent.
- We partnered with Anaheim Public Library for a special Veterans Speak Up presentation at Anaheim Central Library. Our alumni performed stories from their life experiences and then held a special post-show conversation with the audience.
- For the 11th year, our Chance-a-thon put community members in the spotlight. The two-day line-up included a gaggle of talented youngsters, sketch comedy, and multiple musical cabarets, all starring people from your community who want to support the Chance.
- Some of our best friends and artists shared a stellar experience at this year’s gala fundraiser — A Tropical Rainforest Adventure — once again hosted at the beautiful home of Bette & Wylie Aitken. The event combined a fun atmosphere, jungle attire, delectable cuisine, and live entertainment that had the audience literally demanding more. It was all made possible by an outstanding group of devoted artists, volunteers, and generous friends… read more
THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to our year-end fundraising drive — matching all three challenges from other Chance Friends — which will be imperative to the continued pursuit of our mission…
Steve Brown
Barbara & Gary Gray
Rachel Knapp
David & Darlene Diem
Ron & Susan Horn
MJ Poptanich
Michael & Heidee Culver • James Finnerty • Camille Goulet • Raymond Knapp • Julien Minard • Christina & Tim Rice
Jean Abdalla • Anonymous • Michael Bender • B.J. Borgen • Georgann Gunness • Yvonne & Damien Jordan • Nick Kremer & Susan Jundanian • Joanne & Dennis Keith • In memory of Diana Koch Lundberg • Susan Legome • Tommy & Madeleine Long • Rachelle Menaker & Eddie Schuller • Kathy Smith
Jeanne L. Adams • Brien Amspoker and Ellen Breitman • Susan Bowman & Freddie Greenfield • Richard & Linda Davalos • Stephen Elders & Helayne Perry • Dr. Rob & Audrey Greenfield • Carol Hellebrand • In honor of Rachel and Genevieve Knapp • Zelda Knapp • Alan Lawson + Max Schmidl • The Family of Mary Kay Fyda-Mar • Margi & John Murray • Laura M. Hathaway & Matt Takahashi • Evangeline M. Thomson • Lisa & Tom Zaradich
Anonymous • Jen Cook • Arinda Dolter • Megan dos Santos • Ana Elkins • Kathy & Bahram Esfahani • Bradley Edward Feldman • In honor of Courtny Greenough • Paul & Joan Herrick • Kelly Hewitt • Holly Jeanne • Louise & Steven Koch • Glen & Debi Kristiansen • Carol B. Latham • Steven Livengood • Tommy & Madeleine Long • In memory of Courtny Greenough • Doris Longmead • Robyn Manion • Marilou McCarty • Antony Penrose • Marie L. Perez • Lauren Priebe • Betty Jean Reinard • Tyler Robinson • Judy Smith • Laurie Smits Staude • Arthur Strauss • Gabrielle & Matthew Tresler • Eleanor & Sig Wacker • Suzanne Wiser • Jordan Young
Anonymous • Jeannie Berryman • Maricruz Castro-Spencer • David Colwell & Glenda Morgan Brown • In honor of OTR New Works Program • Rochelle Flosi • Elizabeth Kornegay • Deborah McClure • Bridgette Marie Moore • Lauren Priebe • Stephen Rivers • Robert Walton
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