Follies talent raises the bar for CHOC

A sensational 10th anniversary CHOC Follies delighted the O.C. crowd with music and laughter on the stage of Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

From its early days in an old assembly hall on the now-shuttered El Toro Marine Base, to moving over the years to various locales around the county, the follies has finally landed in the premiere performance venue in Orange County. You might say the show suited its new stage.

The bar was raised. Expectations were exceeded. Talent shined. And in the end, close to a million dollars was raised to help Children’s Hospital of Orange County save children’s lives.

This year’s show was billed as “Fantom of the Follies.”

Gloria Zigner, executive producer and creator of the follies, should be very proud. Not just because she has brought the community together for a decade of show and song, but because the millions of dollars raised over 10 years of the follies have delivered life and a future to children and their families. There is a real connection between the chorus, the costumes, the late night, after-show soiree and the blood transfusions, the drugs needed to fight disease, the doctors, nurses, and staff at CHOC and at Mission who are as far away from dance rehearsal as one might possibly be.

To make this most unusual connection, Zigner designed a formula that requires her cast and crew to not only perform but also be fundraisers. Everyone sells tickets, sponsorships and collects underwriting funds. It is a money machine, sometimes a seat at a time, a dollar a day. It is an exhaustive effort ? and an exhausting one as well.

Kudos, kudos, kudos to director John Vaughan, music director Douglas Austin, choreographer Lee Martino and to extraordinary co-chairwomen Leslie Cancellieri, Dale Skiles and Sandy Segerstrom Daniels. This team could solve any challenge, reach any goal.

Zigner brought in the talented songstress Lorna Luft to cap the show, adding a star to a very professional lineup of amateurs. Luft added a wonderful close to a wonderful experience.

Local sports attorney and agent Leigh Steinberg also brought celebrity status to the cast. Steinberg and his wife, Lucy, Newport Beach residents, are committed to community involvement. Their charitable reach is formidable and grows even larger through involvement with CHOC.

Actually, the entire follies cast is a who’s who in O.C. They all deserve mentions.

Julia Argyros is one of my favorites. She loves to perform; her persona, style, energy, and talent are infectious. She’s got star charisma.

Sarah Corrigan is a stand-out. Legs Corrigan also has a Broadway voice. You just want to go up and get her autograph.

Sandy Daniels is both talented and sincerely grounded in the cause of helping children.

Mia Maffei is our own brunet Shirley Jones.

Former Miss California and Rose Princess Janet Terrell is an O.C. beauty who sings gospel like the champs.

Among the male stars, Tony Gato played the Fantom; Randy Fine was Mr. Geronimo Kissy; Tim White was Mr. Josiah Face, and Sammy Swami was played by John Igarashi.

Celebrity impersonators included John Nepp as Frank Sinatra, Mark Pilon as Dean Martin, Bobby Dorman as Peter Lawford and Rich Wordes as our own Joey Bishop, Lido Isle resident and legendary comedic genius.

Major credit for the success of the event also goes to sponsorship Chairwoman Heidi Miller; associate producer Lois Augustine, who has worked with Zigner for years on the Follies; Nicole Boudrequ; Terry Hone; Kathleen Hunt; Kelly Early; and an amazing list of volunteers.

The presenting sponsors of the show were the Newport Coast couple, internationally acclaimed writer Dean Koontz and his wife, Gerda.

Also making a difference were George and Julia Argyros and the Argyros Foundation; John and Donna Crean follies mainstays since the start; Sandy and John Daniels; Marcia Lisle; Cindy and John Gates; Leslie and Dino Cancellieri; Tara and Michael Shapiro; Stan Hanson and Eve Kornyei; Katy and Don Callender; John Herklotz; and the C.J. Segerstrom & Sons family.

In a touching moment during the show, Zigner’s son presented her with a vintage diamond brooch, which she affixed to her jacket.

“I started to cry,” Zigner said. “This has been quite a run.”

Quite a run indeed.