Sam Mendes wins a record three Oliviers

Huge grants for

2 L.A. stage groups

Amid a steady stream of bad economic news for arts institutions around the country in recent months, two local theater groups got a ray of sunshine Friday. They are getting million-dollar grants from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Melon Foundation.

As part of an ongoing initiative to support major nonprofit theaters, the foundations said they will give $1.15 million to Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles and $1.05 million to South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa.

-- Lee Margulies