B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

Joan Ravenna-Sussman of Newport Beach and Palm Springs will see her

words come to life when her original play, “For Pete’s Sake,” opens on

the boards of Orange County’s Chance Theatre in Anaheim on March 9.

The work by Ravenna-Sussman is actually a finalist play in the

Playwright’s Circle 2000 National Playwriting Festival. Ravenna-Sussman

said she is honored to have her work staged and is thrilled at the

prospect of being considered for this prestigious award.

“Inspired by the tragic and sudden death of John F. Kennedy Jr., the

play explores the possibility that, inherent in every blessing, there is

a hidden curse,” said Ravenna-Sussman, explaining her play. “The

proclivity to desire for our children the realization of our own thwarted

ambitions and the very human propensity to dismiss the small, everyday

joys, not knowing what we had until it’s gone.”

The play begins around the character Peter Thorton, a frustrated actor

who has been hurt in a car accident and finds himself dining with God.

The very colorful God, as written by Ravenna-Sussman, allows Thorton to

decide the fate of his unborn son. The son may live an ordinary but happy

life, or he may experience fame and fortune and sorrow.

Thorton chooses the road of fame and fortune. And so the story begins.

Ravenna-Sussman, who was born and raised on the Orange Coast, has

enjoyed a successful career as an actress, spokeswoman and producer on

various projects for television and other media. She has hosted the

CableAce-nominated travel series “Great Sports Vacations,” as well as

“Ticket to Adventure” for the Outdoor Life Network.

She is now producing “Earthtrek,” which she also writes and hosts for

PBS affiliates across the country.

Ravenna-Sussman is married to attorney Mitchell Sussman, partner in

the KOCE-TV station for the desert cities.

For more information on the play, call (760) 325-7258.

* * *

Northern Trust of Newport Beach has formed the Orange County Literary

Society, a not-for-profit corporation that seeks to promote interest and

awareness in contemporary literature.

To this end, the financial powerhouse has conducted two readings so

far, the first one featuring author John Gray (“Men Are From Mars, Women

Are From Venus”) and the second, staged Jan. 17, introduced Newport Beach

audiences to Frances Mayes, best-selling author of “Under the Tuscan Sun”

and “Bella Tuscany.”

Mayes shared personal stories about her latest work, “In Tuscany.”

Northern Trust invited high school students from the Kathleen Muth

Reading and Learning Center’s literacy program to attend the lecture and

share lunch with the author.

“We are committed to giving back to our community. The intention of

this literary society is to raise enough funds through annual membership

dues to promote literacy, as well as to work with our local schools,”

said Betty Mower, regional president of Northern Trust. “Students from

our local schools are invited to attend each luncheon, which will include

special time with the featured author, as was the case with Mayes.”

Upcoming authors set to address the local crowd include David Nasaw,

who wrote a biography of William Randolph Hearst titled, “Chief: Life of

Hearst,” and famed mystery author Mary Higgins Clark.

To become involved, call Glenn Perry at (415) 765-7526 or contact

Perry on the Internet at glenn--perry@ntrs.com.

* * *

Two of the Orange Coast’s star chefs, Alan Greeley of the Golden

Truffle and Michael Kang of Five Feet, will join Families Forward for a

Wines of the Millennium event at the Mondavi Food and Wine Center in

Costa Mesa on Feb. 8. The fund-raiser will feature a cook-off surrounding

specially selected wines suitable for the party.

Families Forward, established in 1984 (formerly known as Irvine

Temporary Housing), helps families who are facing personal and financial

problems.

For more information, call Nora Caldwell at (949) 552-2727.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.