To achieve wider cultural and ethnic diversity and thereby to enrich our artistry and broaden our service to our multicultural community. To develop a clear vision for SCR's future work and to make certain that vision is fully shared with our artists, staff and volunteers. To pursue all our goals with an eye toward making a significant and lasting contribution to the advancement of the American theatre. But that marked only their first step. That year a long-range plan was put on paper.
Legend has it that the paper was a napkin in a coffee shop in Long Beach.
The initial touring phase would become, literally, the First Step. There would be three more, culminating in a large two-theatre facility which they would design for themselves. This would house a large stage for productions that challenged the company's scenic and ensemble talents, a smaller stage on which to present new work, and facilities for workshops, classes and volunteer work. Within two years, artistic and financial momentum had picked up and SCR looked to its next step. A series of events led to the acquisition of a Sprouse-Reitz Variety Store on Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa.