DEBUT PERFORMANCE 'BIG RIVER' READY TO ROLL AT COLLEGE'S NEWLY NAMED VITAL EXPRESS CENTER.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The curtain goes up tonight at the Vital Express Center for the Performing Arts at College of the Canyons, an 886-seat venue that will feature performances by college, professional and community groups.

The premiere performance of ``Big River'' by the college's drama and music departments, with an 8 p.m. curtain time, will be preceded by a gala ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7 p.m. A limited number of tickets are still available at the box office for tonight's festivities.

At a 2003 auction, college supporters Jay and Joyce Rodgers bought the privilege of throwing the first switch on the first performance. The couple has long been involved in the college's development and growth and will be escorted onstage by college President Dianne Van Hook for the ceremony before the curtain rises.

The performing arts facility was called the EPIC Center at a late September press conference, but that changed Wednesday when the college's board accepted a $2 million gift from Valencia-based shipping company Vital Express to give it a corporate christening.

``Fifteen years ago, I went here and it was a great school,'' said Dan Boaz, the co-owner of Vital Express with his wife, Lisa. ``This is our chance to be young leaders and give back to the college. We plan on living here forever, and this will show people we're here to stay.''

The center was built with $15.9 million in funding from the state and $2.4 million from the city of Santa Clarita to add balcony seating. Ground was broken in 2001 and the theater building was completed in August.

``We are so busy right now, people will be working around-the-clock to make sure everything is perfect,'' said Sue Bozman, college spokeswoman. ``We've got people vacuuming, putting together programs, testing the flushers to make sure we don't have any problems opening night. In fact, a group of us just finished testing every seat to make sure they didn't squeak.''

Bozman hasn't had time to shop for the perfect outfit for opening night, but figures she'll be busy down to the time the first guest arrives.

``What am I wearing? Well, it will be something long. I haven't picked it out yet,'' she said. ``I'll probably be changing in the restroom, but I'll definitely be putting on the ritz.''

Santa Clarita Councilwoman Laurene Weste says she'll probably wear ``something old-fashioned and formal. I'll definitely choose pearls over rhinestones.''

Weste said she and the rest of the council are excited about the center's opening.

``It is absolutely essential for a community's health to have an artistic venue like this available. I'm really excited about the opportunity for really top talents to come into the valley,'' she said.

``This is an amazing opportunity for a young community like ours to have. Partnering was good; it provides excellent opportunities for students to expand their education and for the community to see top-notch entertainment.''

TimBen Boydston, director of operations for the Canyon Theatre Guild, which will present 'The Wizard of Oz' at the center next summer, said the new facility should help arts groups and build bigger audiences.

``It will expose more people to the idea of going out to see live theater and concerts in our own valley. Right now, a lot of people drive over the hill into the San Fernando Valley; with the COC theater, they will be less inclined to do so,'' he said. ``We saw that before the Valencia Town Center was built; people traveled to Northridge, but now they shop closer to home. We think that will happen with this new center.''

For ticket information, call the box office at [phone].

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Jason Coia puts some finishing touches on the windows at the college performing arts center in Valencia on Thursday afternoon.

(2 -- color) After a $2 million gift from an alumnus-owned firm, the brand-new College of the Canyons facility has been renamed as the Vital Express Center.

(3) A worker vacuums the aisles in the seating area of the Vital Express Center.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer