Okay, Mr. DeMille. After more than two years of construction at a cost of about $125 million, the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC) at California State University, Northridge, is ready for its closeup.

VPAC doors will swing open Saturday evening for a black-tie kickoff fundraising event expected to raise more than $1 million toward the remaining $27 million in construction costs. As many as 1,700 eager arts patrons will pay from $1,000 for the cheapest ticket to $250,000 for a table of 12 and permanent recognition on the Honor Wall in the Grand Lobby Atrium.

The focal point of the Valley's first ever world-class performance facility is its 1,700-seat performance hall with the kind of acoustics that could only come from incorporating 34,000 feet of stainless steel mesh into the wool serge fabric on the back and side walls.

Also included in the new facility, referred to by CSUN as "the crown of southern California concert halls," is a 175-seat black box theatre, classrooms, a 230-seat lecture room, and backstage support. Other parts of the two linked buildings that make up the facility include rehearsal and event space and broadcast facilities for CSUN-based public radio station KCSN. It adds up to 166,000 square feet of premium performance space surrounded by glass, tile and stone.

"The community has rallied behind the project and we are thrilled by the enthusiastic response  as we approach the opening of the first and only major performing arts center in the San Fernando Valley," said Jolene Koester, president of CSUN.

Performing artists scheduled for the inaugural two-hour show include Andy Garcia, Calista Flockhart, Benjamin Bratt, Jane Kaczmarek, Steven Weber, Noah Wyle, Nancy Cartwright, Keith David, Eric Stoltz, Tyne Daly, Cheech Marin and Sandra Oh. Musical artists expected to perform include singers Monica Mancini and Andrew Lunsford, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, composer Davis Gaines, saxophonist Dave Koz, opera star Carol Vaness and ballet dancers Gillian Murphy and Jose Carreno.

From the world of local politics, attendees will include Congressman Brad Sherman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, State Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield and county supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Mike Antonovich.

VPAC has won praise for its exterior as much as its interior. An unusual cantilevered room and glass curtain walls provide clear views of the inside from outside the building. Enhancing the architecture are a kinetic sculpture by George Rickey and a large reflecting pool between the building and busy Nordhoff Street.

Future performances booked into VPAC include the Russian National Ballet, the China Philharmonic Orchestra, Rosanne Cash, Arianna Huffington, Joan Rivers, Shirley MacLaine and soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, as well as shows featuring Betty Buckley and Marvin Hamlisch and Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin.