Performance Riverside Wins $15,000 Grant from Antitrust Settlement

Performance Riverside, the professional theatre organization affiliated with Riverside City College, was one of 42 local arts organizations in California (and the only Riverside County arts group) to receive part of the settlement from an antitrust case against five of the country¹s largest music CD distributors.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown and the California Arts Council announced the award recently.

"Music has a universal appeal, bringing people together and creating a community spirit," Brown said. "Through these concerts, we hope to bring a small measure of joy into local communities and encourage cultural development."

"The California Arts Council is delighted to have partnered with the Attorney General's office to provide the state's citizens with the opportunity to experience the joy of live performances from California's many genres of music," said Muriel Johnson, director of the California Arts Council.

For Performance Riverside, the award brings $15,000 that will be used for free and discounted tickets, as well as the underwriting of bus transportation for school groups to opera performances.

"We are very excited about this recognition of our efforts to make musical theatre accessible to young patrons who may never have had the chance to see live performances," said Performance Riverside Artistic Director/Producer Rey O'Day. "Our Discovery Theatre performances for schools reach 15,000 children each year."

In 2003, the Attorney General's office settled an antitrust case against five of the country's largest music CD distributors and three national retail chains. The suit contended that the defendants entered illegal agreements with each other to set minimum advertised prices on music CDs.

After the courts approved the settlement, 665,000 music CDs worth $9 million were distributed to public schools, colleges, and libraries. Restitution in the amount of $13.86 was awarded to California consumers who filed claims. After the settlement was distributed, $549,000 remained, which was given to the California Arts Council to establish a one-time music grant program. The California Arts Council reviewed over 160 applications before selecting grant recipients.

Performance Riverside has staged professional theatre productions at the Landis Performing Arts Center at RCC for the past 27 years. This year's season of Discovery Theatre performances includes The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Singin' in the Rain, Harry the Dirty Dog, Apollo: To the Moon (March Air Field Museum), Miss Nelson is Missing, The Pirates of Penzance, and Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida. For more information about Discovery Theatre, call 222-8372.