B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

The curtain nearly fell on the upcoming Children’s Hospital of Orange

County Follies last week when the officials at the old El Toro Marine

base notified executive producer Gloria Zigner that the theater she has

used for the past several seasons would not be available because of

safety regulations.

Zigner went into overdrive to find a house for her beloved follies,

now deep into rehearsal and set to debut March 30.

“Do you understand the definition of sheer panic?” questioned Zigner

at a recent underwriters party for the follies, thrown at the bay-front

estate of CHOC benefactor Jeannette Segerstrom. “How about a high school

auditorium?” responded one gentlemen.

“They are all in use and very hard to book for the amount of time we

need,” replied Zigner.

“What about the old Ebel Theater in Santa Ana?” said another voice of

suggestion.

“They don’t have any seats,” lamented yet another voice in the crowd.

“We’ll rent the seats,” chimed in Zigner.

“Another big problem about losing the site is that so many tickets

have been sold for this location, and despite all the press notice in the

world, there will still be many people who will show up at the base and

be very unhappy,” added Zigner, who is working with co-chairs Sandy

Segerstrom Daniels, Leslie Cancellieri and Dale Skiles on the massive

project.

“We must raise money for a tent,” continued the impresario, who is

leading a cast of 80 Orange County movers and shakers.

With less than a week of notice, and with the generous help from the

folks at Abbey Rents, Zigner was informed that an anonymous angel was

found to underwrite the tent in conjunction with a very generous level of

support from Abbey Rents. So up will go this massive white big top near

the old El Toro Theater, and the show will go on without a hitch.

The benefit performance, with all proceeds going to Children’s

Hospital of Orange County, will play to local audiences March 30 and 31.

John Vaughan will again direct the show, with choreography by Lee

Martino. Doug Austin returns as music director. The dedicated Lois

Augustine serves as associate producer.

The previous four productions of the follies have netted more than

$800,000 for the hospital, and this year the numbers should top the 1

million mark. Among the talented local cast members are John Crean,

Marian Bergeson, Chuck Martin, Terry Jones, Eve Kornyei, Heidi Miller,

Rick Reiff, Patty Waters, Michelle Reinglass, John Gates and Ned Van

Rensselaer.

“And there will be surprises, I promise you,” said Zigner in true

theatrical fashion, holding back just a bit of the magic to entice ticket

sales. “Yes, we need to sell lots more tickets. After all, this is for

the children. CHOC is a regional health center that cares for all

children regardless of the parents’ ability [or lack thereof] to pay.”

This year’s show is called, “Stagestruck . . . A Backstage Musical

Mystery.” Director Vaughan is working with cast members to bring out the

best Broadway performances in the lot.

Crean, who has been both a cast member and sponsor of the show since

its inception, delighted fellow cast members recently at rehearsal when

he brought his close pal Donald O’Conner to the singing and dancing

festival. O’Conner, who starred in many musical movies of the golden age

of Hollywood, including “Singin’ in the Rain,” was greeted with an

impromptu rendition of “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Indeed.

Tickets to the show range in price from $25 to $100. Sponsors are also

invited to join the ranks to help the children. Call the CHOC Foundation

at (714) 532-8690 for more information.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.