B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

It was grand. It was elegant. It was enormously successful. The 27th

annual Candlelight Concert benefiting the Orange County Performing Arts

Center raised more than $1 million last week as some 450 patrons and

guests of the Center arrived for what was surely the event of the year in

Orange County.

The event was chaired by the one of the trendsetters of the community,

Pat Rypinski, who is known for her imaginative style and creative

imprint. The inspiration for this year’s event came from the American

Ballet Theatre’s production of “Cinderella,” which will be presented by

the Center, beginning Tuesday through Dec. 23.

Co-chaired with sophistication by Patricia Ann Marshall, absolutely

radiant in her tangerine rose satin shimmering gown, Cinderella indeed

came to life at the event, well before the midnight hour.

The arriving crush enjoyed a pre-event reception in the orchestra

level lobby, which had been transformed into the enchanted forest of the

mythical and magical heroine Cinderella in search of true love. Even the

carriage was placed front and center, at the ready to whisk guests with a

dream to their destination.

The only fabulous slippers in sight were on the delicate feet of

donors in the crowd such as Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, attending the ball

with husband, John, and family members and friends including Michelle

Ringstrom, Steve and Susie Perry, Royell, Sally and Ted Segerstrom, and

their much-loved matriarch, Jeanette Segerstrom.

Also representing the Segerstrom family were Anton Segerstom with his

charming bride, Jennifer, and the Center’s major benefactor,

philanthropist Henry Segerstrom with his bride Elizabeth.

Rypinski and Marshall gushed as they thanked patrons for the

tremendous support.

“The marvelous individuals who joined our committees and whose

imagination, dedication and enthusiasm have made this a memorable evening

are especially deserving of thanks,” said Rypinski, wearing a shimmering

black evening gown deeply cut and exposing a winter tanned decolletage

held in check by an antique diamond and platinum bow pin.

Following the Cinderella-themed cocktail reception, the crowd was

ushered into Segerstrom Hall and seated in the front rows center, to

experience the voice and the persona of legendary entertainer Harry

Belafonte. He swept them all off their feet, had the crowd laughing and

even singing along.

The 1950s king of calypso took the black-tie audience on a nostalgic

romp vis-a-vis songs such as “Matilda,” “Jamaica Farewell” and “Banana

Boat.”

His bigger-than-life talent enveloped the small exclusive crowd seated

in only a few rows of the massive sea of burgundy seats in Segerstrom

Hall.

It is challenging to describe the very unique experience of being

entertained in this setting with a great and empty house behind and

surrounding you. Suffice it to say that it is a privilege to be in the

proverbial eye of the cultural needle of the community in this very

rarefied, once-a-year experience.

As the performance concluded, the curtain fronting the stage of

Segerstrom Hall was raised to reveal the ballroom of Cinderella’s

fantasy. In true Rypinski style, with talented assistance from design

consultant Jim Mees, the candles flickered and romance flourished as

guests were transformed to another time and place.

Roger Kirwan, Center chairman, attending with his wife, Gail,

remarked, “I am overwhelmed by the glamour created for this tradition,

and by the support demonstrated by the community for this event and for

the Center.”

Center president Jerry Mandel, escorting his wife, Whitney, attired in

a floor length red satin gown and matching wrap suitable for the season

and the occasion, added, “Candlelight enables us to showcase the

beautiful ambience of the building itself while enjoying world-class

entertainment.”

In the gilded surounding, local glitterati, with big-time support from

Howard and Roberta Ahmanson, included George and Judie Argyros, Byron and

Ronnie Allumbaugh, Laurence and Cerise Feeley, David and Judith Threshie,

Henry and Susan Samueli, Mark and Barbara Johnson, Tom and Joyce Tucker,

Dorothy Stillwell, Darrel and Marsha Anderson, Ron and Donna Phelps,

George and Stephanie Sakioka, Ygal and Sheila Sonenshine, Tom and Marilyn

Sutton, Tom and Elizabeth Tierney, Robert and Valaree Wahler, Tim and

Jean Weiss, and Donald and Nancy Wynn. Tables of eight sold for a minimum

of $25,000, with some of the center spots raising $50,000 to a premium

table gift of $75,000. It was a night for the ladies to bring out the

heavy artillery in terms of designer gowns and incredible gems.

“There is not a more glamorous evening all year long,” commented

Cerise Feeley, who chaired the underwriters reception this year.

Feeley is known for her own grand statement of style. She wore a

slinky satin gown with a retro Hollywood feel. Her diamond and emerald

necklace was surely fit for royalty, Hollywood or Orange County garden

variety.

Dinner was served to the Hotel Four Seasons’ exacting standards under

the supervision of Chef Michel Pieton, on location at the Center. Robert

Mondavi Winery provided selected chardonnay and merlot wines. At

mid-dinner, the Pacific Chorale joined the party providing exceptional

holiday singing.

As the night progressed, the crowd ventured backstage into Founders

Hall for a nightcap reception and dancing until the early morning hours.

Among the revelers were Paul and Virginia Knott Bender, Bill and Helen

Close, Sidney and Renee DuPont, Jim and Catherine Emmi, Robert and Carole

Follman, Clifford and Barbro Heinz, Gavin and Ninetta Herbert, Fletcher

and Kimberly Jones, William and Willa Dean Lyon, Charlie and Pat Poss,

Eugene and Ruth Ann Moriarty, and Carl and Cynthia Nolet.

It may have been a night for Cinderella, but the real transformation

is an ongoing and expanding community love affair with one of the

nation’s most accomplished performing arts centers.

With the proposed building plans, this event is a harbinger of the

impressive community support that will further create one of America’s

great cultural centers right here in our own backyard. While the glamour

and the glory of Candlelight is reserved for the fortunate few able to

write generous checks in order to raise that $1 million-plus each year

from this one evening, the benefits are realized by the entire community,

which is afforded some 350 opportunities a year to attend world-class

events in Costa Mesa.

Bravo.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.