The L.A. chapter of the American Society for Public Administration recently awarded its 1999 Henry Reining Outstanding Organization Award to the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The award is an annual recognition presented to an organization committed to public service whose accomplishments significantly contributed to good government or improved the quality of life in the L.A. metropolitan area.Just six years ago, La Mirada Theatre, which is owned and operated by the city, was experiencing declining audiences. The City Council's remedy was to contract with McCoy Rigby Entertainment to produce Broadway-quality shows. Today the theatre is safely in the black and attracts over 200,000 patrons annually.

The highly successful McCoy Rigby series generates two-thirds of the Theatre's total annual revenue, despite using only a portion of the available weeks. One of McCoy Rigby's shows, Peter Pan, transferred to Broadway and is presently touring the nation. The company's 1999-2000 season, beginning this fall, has expanded from four shows to five, including Pump Boys and Dinettes; The Gin Game, Red, White and Tuna, The Unsinkable Molly Brown and A Grand Night for Singing. For information or tickets call (562) 944- 9801 or (714) 994-6310.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent