Lyric Opera San Diego: Leon Natker, general director

San Diego Business Journal, Jan 7, 2008

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ORGANIZATION

Mission of organization: Provide a regional model for the production of Comic Opera, Operetta and Musical Theater that develops new generations of artists and audiences by producing a season of fully mounted productions and education programs.

Telephone: (619) 231-5714.

Web site: www.lyricoperasandiego.org.

Founded: 1979.

Milestone: Opening the restored North Park Theatre on Oct. 14, 2005.

Annual income: $2.3 million.

Expense allocation: $2.1 million.

Board chair: James Rouse.

Board members: Roberto Cueva, Ned Steinem, Catalina Preskill, Merle Fischlowitz, Len Gosink, Lorraine Mautner, Loretta Godfrey, Randy Gibson, Richard Maudsley.

Employees: 19.

Volunteers: 62.

Events: Four main stage shows per year.

Wish list: An endowment of $5 million.

OFFICE ISSUES

Recent challenge: Our largest tenant almost going bankrupt.

Measures of success: The size of the audience, and the number of individual donations.

Smartest move: Buying the North Park Theatre.

Misconception: The time it would take to establish the North Park Theatre in the community.

PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS

Personal path to nonprofit work: I was a freelance artist who encountered one too many mismanaged companies. I thought I could do a better job.

Toughest aspect: Raising money.

Most surprising aspect: How many people are actually behind you.

Biggest pain: Competing with other nonprofits for the limited dollars available.

Greatest pleasure: Watching young artists grow into successful careers.

INTROSPECTIONS

Best recent moment: Playing Don Quixote in Lyric Opera's "Man of La Mancha."

Worst recent moment: Dealing with a catastrophic family illness.

Dream for another life: I'd like to be an anthropologist and travel, studying other cultures.

Downtime: Drinking good wine with friends.

Causes: The planet--it's all we have, we must save it!