Steven Beazley, former chief executive of the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, has taken the same title at the Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation.
Beazley started as the nonprofit’s chief executive on Sept. 1. His main duties include spearheading the foundation’s effort to renovate the historic theater on the Balboa peninsula. The city of Newport Beach owns the facility.
The foundation’s top day-to-day job had been vacant for several years.
“Steve brings his visionary leadership experience and deep history with the Orange County community to the Balboa Performing Arts Theater at a time when we are about to break ground on its renovation and the City of Newport Beach has stepped up its involvement in the project,” said Todd Pennington, chair of the foundation’s board.
Beazley received a doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and served four years as a professor at its Graduate School of Education and Psychology. He also was a member of South Coast Repertory’s acting company in the early 1980s.
He left the OC Fairgrounds last year. His departure followed a contentious effort by Costa Mesa-based Facilities Management West to buy the 150-acre property from the state—a deal approved by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger but called off by his successor, Jerry Brown.
Consulting Work
Beazley has consulted with Pacific Symphony, Orange County Great Park and the Simon Foundation for Education and Housing since leaving the fairgrounds.
He was selected by the board of the Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation from a pool of candidates identified by Arts Orange County, a nonprofit arts council contracted by the foundation to conduct a national search.
“Upon meeting the board members, I can’t say I have ever encountered a more tenacious, dedicated group of people whose sole focus is to bring this community jewel back to life and take to the next level the reputation of Balboa Village and Newport Beach alike,” Beazley said.
Goal, Plans
The goal for the theater is to remodel it into a 300-seat venue “boasting the latest in sound and lighting design, while keeping the style and look of the original theater,” according to the foundation.
Plans call for a new rooftop entertainment deck with views of Newport Harbor and surrounding areas. The renovations are expected to take about a year to complete.
The city of Newport Beach purchased the structure at 707 E. Balboa Blvd. for $480,000 in the 1990s and leased it to the foundation for 25 years at no charge.
The City Council, in an attempt to revive a renovation process marred by delays in obtaining a construction permit from the California Coastal Commission and by rising construction costs, has extended a $3 million, no-interest challenge loan—half of the funds required to renovate the theater.
The foundation has raised $1 million and is working to raise the rest of the matching funds.
The campaign for the theater is proceeding alongside an effort to revitalize the area dubbed the Balboa Pavilion and Fun Zone, including a plan to expand the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum/ExplorOcean.
