Irvine Barclay says ‘Hello Jerry’

Broadway paid a little visit to the Orange Coast last week when

internationally acclaimed composer Jerry Herman appeared at the

Irvine Barclay Theatre as a fund-raiser for the Orange County High

School of the Arts.

The late Sunday reception, billed as “Hello Jerry!” welcomed the

composer of such musicals as “Hello Dolly,” “Mame” and “La Cage Aux

Folles” with a celebrity champagne reception backstage prior to a

performance that took the audience on an enthusiastic romp through

the music of Herman’s career.

The retrospective show featured musical director Don Pippin and

Jerry Herman in concert with Broadway singers Karen Morrow, Paige

O’Hara and Jason Graae. The music was interspersed with anecdotes

from Herman’s life in the theater.

The presentation was the inaugural visit of a production that is

part of the ASCAP Foundation/Jerry Herman Legacy Series, which has

been created to expose students across the country to musical

theater. This was the first presentation to a high school on the West

Coast.

DINNER PARTY FOR KOCE-TV

Friends of KOCE-TV joined together for a President’s Circle Dinner

Party.” The third annual fund-raiser celebrated another year of

outstanding local public television led by the president of KOCE, Mel

Rogers.

The evening centered around a casual Mexican fiesta on the coast,

with dinner provided by Wahoo’s Fish Tacos and a very busy blended

margarita bar. It was an occasion to honor Newport-Mesa citizens who

have made a difference for the station, which reaches much of

Southern California.

Hosts of the party, held at the station’s studios in Huntington

Beach, were our own local celebrities Ed Arnold and Ann Pulice,

co-anchors of “Real Orange.” Maria Hall Brown was in the crowd, along

with Allison Badger, David Lansing and John Forsyte, executive

director of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. Wing Lam, owner of

Wahoo’s, joined Ralph Opacic and Jo Ellen Allen for the public TV

gathering.

CHRISTMAS CAROL BALL

The elegant Christmas Carol Ball, produced by Hoag Hospital’s 552

Club, will be held Dec. 7, its 36th annual presentation on the Orange

Coast. Chaired by Terry and Bob Callahan and a host of dedicated Hoag

Hospital Foundation supporters, the gala holiday event will take

place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach.

The event is a cornerstone of the Newport-Mesa holiday social

calendar. Funds raised will support the Hoag Women’s Pavilion, as

well as the Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute.

Wayne Foster’s Orchestra has been tapped to entertain. Students

from the Orange County High School of the Arts will also perform.

One final note relating to the high school. Talented students will

be joining in the festivities Nov. 21 at Fashion Island for the

annual Tree Lighting Ceremony around the nation’s tallest Christmas

tree.

Students will perform segments from “The Key To Christmas”

directed by Susan Egan, with a special guest appearance by Jodi

Benson, who starred as the voice of Ariel in Disney’s “The Little

Mermaid.”

The annual Tree Lighting performance takes place at sunset in the

Neiman Marcus courtyard at Fashion Island.

The shopping center has graciously donated three $2,000 gift

certificates for auction, with all proceeds going to the Orange

County High School of the Arts.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.