The Crowd
B.W. Cook
Davis Gaines, musical performer, actor and one-time “Phantom of The
Opera,” returns to Orange County on April 8 to headline a benefit dinner
for the much-loved Angelitos de Oro. The organization supports the Big
Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County and is one of the longest standing
charitable groups in the Newport-Mesa community.
The Saturday evening soiree, to be held at The Four Seasons Hotel in
Newport Beach, will be a black-tie affair beginning with a cocktail
reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the Gaines concert.
Darleen Manclark will take your reservations at (949) 723-0103.
*
Richard Chamberlin charmed the local crowd with his portrayal of Captain
Von Trapp as “The Sound of Music” retold the classic World War II family
saga on the boards of the Orange County Performing Arts Center this past
week. On opening night, the local crowd enjoyed a lavish, late night
after-show party and supper at Maggiano’s Italian restaurant at South
Coast Plaza. The festive atmosphere was created in part by Roger Kirwan,
center chairman, and Donna Phelps, president of Center Stars, one of the
premiere support groups of the center.
The triad of celebs gracing the OC arena included Wayne Newton, who with
the fabulous ladies and gents of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation
raised $651,226 at his benefit concert at the Orange County Performing
Arts Center. General William and Willa Dean Lyon, personal friends of
Newton, served as honorary chairs and generous sponsors of the evening.
Newton donated his talent to enable fund-raisers to reach their high
mark. At a post-concert reception in Founders Hall, some 200 friends of
Orangewood gathered, including Susan Samueli; Tom Rogers; Jack and Belle
Lindquist; John and Merry Hagestad; and Roger and Gail Kirwan. The event
was chaired by Pat Poss with a committee that included Carol Wilken,
Sharon Tase and Linda Oxford, to name a few.
*
The Junior League of Orange County didn’t have celebs, but they had
plenty of local gamblers at their sixth annual Monte Carlo event held
recently at The Clubhouse Restaurant in Costa Mesa. The $50-per-person
evening attracted a sellout crowd. Chaired by Patricia Kirsch, the
evening attracted local sponsorship from such enterprises as Black Starr
and Frost Jewelers, donors of a one-carat diamond won by a lucky
Huntington Beach couple. The stone was placed in a random champagne
glass. No guzzling allowed at this party.
The league supports a number of local causes aimed at preventing child
abuse and enriching the lives of young people.
*
One of the most prestigious celebrations on the Orange Coast is the
annual presentation of the UCI Medals to distinguished men and women
making a difference for the university and for the community.
The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine was the site last week for this year’s
gala where William J. Lillyman, Donald McKayle, Ricardo Miledi and
Newport’s Henry and Susan Samueli were recognized for their commitment to
education, research and scholarship. The event was co-chaired by Ted and
Janice Smith and featured a Broadway-style revue by UCI students and
alumni.
In the crowd were the renown Arnold Beckman; Joan Irvine Smith; UCI
Chancellor Ralph Cicerone; Tom and Elizabeth Tierney; Dick and Ann Sim;
Jack and Susan Peltason; Al and Tricia Nichols; Henry and Stacey
Nicholas; Charles and Twyla Martin; Tom and Joyce Tucker; Mark and
Barbara Johnson; and state Sen. Joe Dunn.
* B.W. COOK’S column appears Thursdays and Saturdays.
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