A Candlelight evening of music

B.W. COOK

The fashionable local steakhouse Morton’s at South Coast Plaza

Village opened its doors on a Monday evening to welcome the most

generous patrons of the Candlelight Concert.

The Morton’s dinner reception celebrated 30 years of the annual

candlelight event, which generates a major charitable contribution to

the Orange County Performing Arts Center. In recent years, the

Candlelight event, which is comprised of two major nights at the

Center, the Candlelight Concert and the Candlelight Encore Concert,

has raised seven-figure donations for the Center.

This holiday season, the elegant affair chaired by Elizabeth

Tierney and co-chaired by Carol Wilken and Pat Rypinski will take

place Dec. 5. It will star entertainer Johnny Mathis.

Morton’s Steakhouse generously welcomed patrons of the event

including Barbara Bowie, Carole and Robert Follman, Patricia Ann

Marshall, Jim and Catherine Emmi, Pat and Dick Allen, Patti and Jim

Edwards, Irene and William Mathews, Suki and Randall McCardle, Dee

and Larry Higby, Maralou and Jerry Harrington, and Lido Isle’s

handsome couple Joan and Tom Riach.

The lavish underwriter’s reception featured a flowing martini bar

graciously hosted by Cynthia Nolet and an impressive auction that was

concluded with bidding for a private exclusive musical concert

starring opera diva Robin Follman and Center President Jerry Mandel

on the saxophone.

The private dinner concert was sold for $15,000, and actually went

to two bidders who each paid $15,000 for the experience.

BALBOA THEATER

The Balboa Performing Arts Theater welcomed supporters at the

Corona de Mar residence of Catherine and Delane Thyen to share in a

presentation of future plans by Mary Lonich, executive director of

the theater.

The morning reception also welcomed incoming board chair Nancy

Gardner and recognized the founder of the Balboa Performing Arts

Theater Foundation, Dayna Pettit. Newport Mayor Steve Bromberg was on

hand representing the city and sharing the municipal view on historic

preservation.

The Balboa Theater, built by J.P. Greeley, first opened its doors

in 1913. The first theater operated for approximately 15 years at its

original Main Street location until it was transformed into an

amusement arcade.

In 1928, Greeley built his second theater on Balboa Boulevard and

called it “the Ritz.” It became a stage for vaudeville and during

prohibition housed a speak-easy that was well known to local society

and Hollywood personalities. In 1939, the Ritz was renamed the Balboa

Theater and turned into a movie house.

The Balboa Performing Arts Foundation seeks donors to the

preservation effort. To date, generous participants include John and

Donna Crean, who led the financial campaign with a $1-million gift,

the Sam Parker Family, the city of Newport Beach, the Pacific Life

Foundation, the Segerstrom Foundation, City National Bank, Chris

Fischer, Ken and Wendy Ruby, Robert Voit, Todd and Linda White, Steve

and Jule Gainey, and Robert and LaDorna Eichenberg.

To get involved, please contact Mary Lonich at (949) 673-0895.

MAKING MEMORIES

They called it “Memories in the Making.” The 2003 art collection

by local Alzheimer artists was presented to the public by the Orange

County Alzheimer’s Assn. at a cocktail reception at the Park Tower

Atrium in Costa Mesa.

The collection featured 40 original paintings selected from more

than 400 submissions. The art was then auctioned off as some 200

guests enjoyed the champagne reception fronted by TV celebrity

Stephanie Edwards.

Auctioneer Chuck Dreyer helped to raise more than $47,000 to

support Alzheimer’s treatment and educational programs in this

community. The evening was chaired by the beautiful Joyce Weiss with

support from a committee of dedicated volunteers.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.