It’s all Greek at OCPAC annual benefit

To support the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the ladies of the Sound of Music hosted an annual fundraiser billed as “Experience the Greek Odyssey.” It confirmed the guild’s reputation for throwing the most lavish parties on the social circuit.

Chairs Denice Tsujioka and Diane Palumbo pulled out all the stops, and patrons wore costumes that ranged from the sublime to the outlandish. The Greek theme was liberally blended with Roman influence ? Nero was most certainly present in the crowd, and there were plenty of Roman-looking warriors. The Greeks were a fierce society as well but were also very intellectual. Not too many guests chose to come as Plato. Oh well, Plato wouldn’t have seemed proper standing at the Blue Ice martini bar anyway.

A big part of the success of these events is the auction, and Sound of Music auction chairs Laura Baratta and Erica Swensson left no stone unturned. In addition to the success of the auction, Sound of Music underwriting chairs Kelly and John Hague, Eve Kornyei and Stan Hanson, and Harriet and Sandy Sandhu raised an impressive six-figure sum from donors ? including Sally and Randy Crockett, John and Lori Loftus, and Nancee and Rick Swensson ? to cover the entire cost of the event, enabling the guild to donate all proceeds to the center.

In the crowd welcoming guests were guild leaders Danni Good and Judy Pedersen. Cartier’s Caroline Jones was looking very Jackie O. (I suppose the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis qualifies as Greek). Actually, Onassis himself was in attendance. Allow me to correct that: There were three or perhaps four Aristotle Onassis-costumed gents in the crowd. One of the best-donned white linen pants, a white starched Greek-style shirt and oversized black-framed glasses.

Kathie Porter looked gorgeous in her off-the-shoulder white sheath. Pamela Lowry was a knockout in a black gown and Greek-inspired jewels. Irene Tomkinson wore Aegean Greek silk ? a Greek maiden to be certain. Danni Good chose a low-cut turquoise gown adorned with gold and turquoise jewelry, her hair curled, pulled up high on her head and framed by a gold band. Husband Dan Good dressed as a warrior with his silver chest plate and sword to match. He used the sword to cut his food (just kidding) when not keeping hostile members of the crowd at bay.

Also very Greek for the guild were Leslie and Dino Cancellieri, Cathy Lowden, Sandra Falk, Stephanie Salas-Bauer, Shelly and Michael Elam, Patsy and Tim Marshall, Jennifer Condas, Diane and Jerry Monroe, Beth Hart, Tracy Martin, Stacy Von Berg, Grace Thelen, Carla Stiassni, Paula Macko and Debra McMurry.