Irvine Barclay Theatre

Since opening its doors in 1990, Irvine Barclay Theatre has emerged as one of California's most imaginative performing arts showcases. A unique collaborative venture among the City of Irvine, the University of California, Irvine, and the private sector, the theatre has a reputation for wide-ranging programming in the fields of contemporary dance, music, and theater arts. Performances take place in the 756-seat Cheng Hall, renowned for its intimate atmosphere and superb acoustics.

Irvine Barclay Theatre is an independent non-profit organization established nearly twenty years ago as an innovative public-private partnership with the vision of creating a unique performing arts venue. The private sector, the City of Irvine and the University of California, Irvine - combined funding and land to achieve a long-standing mutual goal.

The partners created Irvine Barclay Theatre to showcase top quality artists, to provide a superior facility for local and regional arts groups, and to enhance UCI's educational mission, particularly the programs generated by its School of the Arts. The theatre building is named for Mr. Richard Barclay, an area philanthropist, who provided the leading gift for the theatre's construction. The theatre auditorium is named for Dr. George and Arlene Cheng, also area philanthropists.

HISTORY

During the 1970’s, a group of supporters, guided by their conviction that the arts are the “soul” of a city, advocated the building of a community-based performing arts facility. After years of discussion, meetings, committee research and community activism, there emerged a unique public-private partnership comprised of leaders from the private sector and from the City of Irvine and the University of California, Irvine. The non-profit Irvine Barclay Theatre Operating Company was chartered in 1986 to further the design and construction goals and, upon opening, to operate the facility and its programming.
The City contributed $11.3 million, mostly from voter-approved bond issues, to the $17.4 million project. The theatre’s board of trustees raised $4.3 million from private sources and the university provided the 2.3-acre site as well as $1.8 million in construction funding. The Barclay, as it is commonly called, opened to the public on September 30, 1990, on time and on budget.
The 50,000 square foot venue was designed by the San Francisco firm of Wurster, Bernardi and Emmons, which had been selected by competition. Noted architect Larry Cannon designed the building in a style sometimes referred to as “Bay Area modernism.” It is now valued in excess of $50 million while its design remains durably appealing.
As we approach our 25th anniversary, the 756-seat performing arts theatre has built a distinguished record of excellence, attracting audiences not just from Irvine, but from throughout the southern California region. Its annual rosters of dance, theatre, music and spoken word are unique in Orange County for their diversity and, sometimes, adventurousness.