By Eric Marches | Special to the NB Indy

At Newport Theatre Arts Center ’ s annual gala , board members and those who run and operate the theater did a lot more than unveil NTAC ’ s 2023-2024 season .

They gave tours of the venue meant to showcase recent upgrades to the lobby and the theater itself , and they hosted a silent auction designed to raise funds while promoting NTAC .

Of equal importance at the May 21 event was the announcement that the Newport Beach theater company ’ s five-play season has now , for the first time ever , been expanded to six productions , and effective this fall the traditional nighttime 8 p . m . curtain is being changed to 7:30 p . m .

Above all , as board president Michelle Bendetti noted during the gala , the event ’ s foremost purpose is to convey gratitude to NTAC ’ s most generous patrons – those whose ongoing donations have kept the theater company going even in lean times such as the recent pandemic – as well as to season ticketholders and , internally , to board members , staffers , volunteers , and those whose work on various committees made the afternoon ’ s celebration possible .

Last year ’ s gala delivered such thanks , too , but also a key reveal that the theater space had been permanently renamed the Rae A . Cohen Theater , in appreciation for Cohen ’ s lifelong work as NTAC ’ s leader and , in essence , its heart and soul .

Nothing so dramatic this time around , but there was plenty of buzz to accompany the festivities , touted as the 2023-2024 kickoff event whose centerpiece was the new season reveal .

The lineup , which had been kept tightly under wraps , begins with the musical “ The Addams Family ” in September and concludes with the comedic drama “ On Golden Pond ” in June and July of 2024 , with a

second musical , another drama and two comedies in between .

The gala ’ s first hour gave guests an opportunity to mingle while enjoying live guitar and vocal music , complimentary catered hors d ’ oeuvres and beverages from the bar ; inspect and place their bids on the silent auction gift baskets on display ; and interact with staff members who provided behindthe-scenes tours of the theater and its backstage area , dressing rooms , green room and scene shop .

To start the afternoon ’ s season reveal , guests filed into and nearly filled the 80-seat Rae A . Cohen Theater , which synched up with the estimated head count of 73 .

Bendetti began by drawing attention to “ the newly updated theater .” The lobby has gotten a complete overhaul that includes new carpeting , paint and furniture , new blackscreen monitors , and a new bar repurposed ( by board member and scenic artist Jim Huffman ) from the top of the large serving table that had long graced the entryway area .

The theater itself has gotten a paint job . Also upgraded are its sound and lighting systems , improvements patrons will presumably notice in upcoming productions .

Bendetti ’ s first thank-you was to Cohen , noting that this beloved NTAC mainstay was a founding member of the theater company who presided over it , and its board , for 37 of its 45 years , using her firstrate interpersonal skills to develop relationships with all supporters .

Bendetti first pointed out that Cohen ’ s are “ big shoes to fill — I can ’ t fill ’ em !” then drew attention to Cohen , seated in the front row , and asked her to stand and be recognized by the audience , adding that Choen is “ still on the board and still very active .”

The current president went on to thank the committee members and volunteers who engineered this year ’ s gala , and pointed out each board member , all but one of whom

were present , and singled out board member Jim Huffman for doing the painting and graphics that have given the venue its new look .

“ COVID really did a number on us and on our season ,” Bendetti said . “ We appreciate all of you for coming back and all of your donations and offers for assistance and offers to help and volunteer , and we so appreciate what we ’ ve been able to do because of all of you .”

The formal program continued with a preview of “ Guys and Dolls ,” which opens June 2 and brings the current season to a close , as cast members Daniel Berlin , Cameron Murray , Michelle de la Peña and Phillip Schnell performed “ Fugue for Tinhorns ,” “ If I Were a Bell ” and the show ’ s title number .

Huffman then took the stage for the main event : to announce the new season , with the reveal of each production accompanied by a prerecorded synopsis .

The popular , ghoulishly-funny musical “ The Addams Family ” opens the season September 22 through October 22 , followed November 17 through December 10 by “ Inspecting Carol ,” a comedy about an inept theater troupe struggling to stage “ A Christmas Carol .”

Next up is the Jon Robin Baitz drama “ Other Desert Cities ” January 19 through February 11 , 2024 . “ The Drowsy Chaperone ,” billed as “ a musical within a comedy ,” runs March 15 through April 14 . Closing the season are the classic 1941 Noel Coward comedy “ Blithe Spirit ” ( May 10 through June 2 ) and the popular dramedy “ On Golden Pond ” ( June 28 through July 21 ).

The names of the productions ’ directors weren ’ t given and are expected to be announced at a later time .

Bendetti alerted guests to the fact that the new season represents the first time NTAC has ever fielded a six-play season . To encourage the purchase of season tickets and to help the public get the most for

their money , patrons will be able to purchase all six productions for the price of five throughout the summer .

Patrons were then invited to return to the lobby to enjoy desserts , sip champagne as a toast to the new season and the newly offered and announced changes and improvements , and to take the NTAC tour .

Following the formal announcements , board members Bob Fetes and Andrew Kelley related to the Indy that NTAC had originally obtained the rights to the musical “ Mamma Mia ” and the light comedy “ Clue ” for next season , but that the rights were pulled when Segerstrom Center for the Arts announced touring versions of both shows on its 2023-2024 schedule .

NTAC ’ s board quickly secured the rights to “ Drowsy Chaperone ” and “ On Golden Pond ” as replacements . Kelley also pointed out that the decision to shift the evening curtain time from the traditional 8 p . m . to 7:30 was driven by patrons , many of whom “ brought this to our attention ” and requested the change . He said the move , which goes into effect this fall with the start of the new season , received unanimous support from the board .

Kelley noted that the board saw numerous advantages and few drawbacks to expanding NTAC ’ s season to six shows , including less downtime between productions and the ability to annually present two musicals .

“ Our audiences ,” he said , “ love musicals . They ’ re popular , sell well and are fun .” While producing such larger-scale shows might carry a higher price tag , “ they also sell well and make more money .”

Newport Theatre Arts Center is located at 2501 Cliff Drive . Those who wish to purchase tickets or obtain more information about season tickets and upcoming productions can call ( 949 ) 631-0288 or visit www . ntactickets . com .