Getting their Follies

Jennifer K Mahal

In a nondescript former bank building close to the Orange County

Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, the yearly miracle is occurring.

People like retired RV tycoon John Crean and philanthropist Sandy

Segerstrom Daniels spend their Saturdays for more than two months

learning songs and dance moves.

Twice a week, sometimes more, 90 men and women -- many of them leaders

in business and society -- show up in sweat clothes to be directed by

John Vaughn for the Children’s Hospital Orange County Follies. This

year’s edition, its sixth, will be performed in a white tent across from

the Center on Friday through May 19.

On a recent Saturday, the cavernous rehearsal room rang out with music

and chatter at 9:30 a.m. as the cast of “The Slipper and the Surfer”

arrived, ready to run lines, dance moves and sing songs for the original

Orange County Cinderella story. Next door, set designer Bob Mumm and

other volunteers worked on painting and building sets.

“Everyone sings, everyone dances,” said Daniels, who is co-chairing

the Follies with Leslie Cancellieri and Dale Skiles. “Not everyone has

solos, but you can try out for them.”

Auditions for the Follies, created by former hospital foundation

President Gloria Zigner, are held in January. Zigner, a forceful bundle

of energy, recruits people from all walks of life for the show.

“We have cast members who were professionals and people who have never

been onstage and always wanted to be,” the executive producer said. “We

have businessmen taking classes at [South Coast Repertory].”

Which is why you could see Costa Mesa Mayor Linda Dixon rehearsing

alongside Skipper Tim Bercovitz of the American Legion Yacht Club in

Newport Beach. And watch chiropractor Mary Pham work on her turns as,

across the room, Rick Reiff of the Orange County Business Journal

practiced walking in white open-toed heels.

ON COMMITMENT

In an area where it is commonplace in some circles to drop $100 or

more for a black-tie fund-raiser, taking part in the Follies takes real

commitment. There are lines to be memorized, dance moves to go over with

choreographer Lee Martino and songs to be learned from music director

Doug Astin.

Few, if any, of the Follies’ performers are professionals. Most have

some background in theater, usually dating back to high school or the

last Follies. Many have high-profile jobs, like Terry Jones, vice

president of development for the Center, and Martin Hubbard, executive

director of Opera Pacific.

“No one will ever pay most of us to do this,” co-Chairwoman Skiles

said.

But year after year, they volunteer for the show -- some for the first

time, some for the sixth. Always, there are two reasons: the persuasive

power of Zigner, and the worthiness of Children’s Hospital Orange County

as a charity.

“She’s got endless energy, endless contacts to make things happen,”

Jones said. “She’s relentless about raising money for the hospital.”

Reiff, who with Jones is playing Cinderella’s stepsisters, said Zigner

initially forced him to do the Follies.

“But now I beg her every year,” he said.

Co-Chairwoman Cancellieri said Zigner also talked her into trying out.

“I’d never been onstage before,” she said. “I told her I had no

talent. She said it was OK.”

But for Cancellieri, the Follies are also personal. Her middle son had

neurosurgery at Children’s Hospital when he was 3. He’s 27 now, she said

proudly.

It is required that cast members take a tour of Children’s Hospital,

which has facilities in Orange and at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.

“Once you tour the hospital, it makes you want to do it,” Daniels

said.

Another requirement of cast membership is a financial commitment.

Follies participants are required give a $500 personal check as a promise

that they will raise or sell at least that much in sponsorships and

ticket sales.

“Most people never ask for their check back,” Zigner said.

So far, the Follies has raised more than $1 million for the hospital

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

Professional costumes, sets and direction are among the things that

set the Follies apart from other shows put on by amateurs. Director

Vaughn, choreographer Martino and music director Astin are among the only

people paid for their work. Vaughn and Martino teach musical theater at

Citrus College in Glendora.

“We don’t like them,” Bercovitz said of the trio. “We absolutely adore

them. We would walk across burning coals for them.”

Similar compliments were echoed by other cast members, all of whom

praised the team, especially Vaughn.

“He is the most brilliant director,” Zigner said. “He’s so calm, never

ruffled.”

As he runs people through the musical numbers in the first act over

and over again, Vaughn’s voice never seems to get raised. More than one

person at rehearsal called him, in the way of business people, the best

CEO they had ever seen.

The harmony and closeness among the cast is evident, not just in the

way they sing together, but in the smiles, nods and teasing that gets

dished all around.

“Backstage, it’s amazing. It doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO or a

janitor, everyone helps everyone else,” Jones said.

There are no solo bows at the end of the show. No prima donnas, no

stars. Everyone curtsies or bows together, as a group.

“You get hooked,” said Bercovitz, keeping an eye out for his call to

rehearse. “The cause is the reason we’re here. The people, the cast is so

good, so warm. It’s family.”

As the costumes get fitted -- “I’m wearing a dress this year,” Reiff

said, with a glint in his eye. “I like new experiences” -- and the acts

get rehearsed back to back, the energy level heightens. If you didn’t

already know, you would never guess this wasn’t a rehearsal for

professional theater.

In less than two weeks, the show will go up. The rehearsals finished.

“My favorite part is the first few notes, when we’re getting ready to

open and the music starts,” said Skiles, a pixie with a cap of black

hair. “It’s sheer excitement, not nerves.”

* JENNIFER K MAHAL is features editor of the Daily Pilot. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4282 or jennifer.mahal@latimes.com

FYI

* What: CHOC Follies “The Slipper and the Surfer”

* Where: A tent across from the Orange County Performing Arts Center,

Town Center Drive and Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa

* When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. May 18, and 2 p.m. May 19

* Cost: Evening performances -- $25 general admission, $50 reserved

seats, $100 includes cast party. Matinees -- $25 general admission, $25

reserved seats.

* Call: (714) 532-8690