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.

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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.

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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.

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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.