OUR LAGUNA:Crowd hands it to d’Bree

A standing-room-only audience gave Bree Burgess Rosen a standing ovation Saturday night at a concert to benefit the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach. “Concerto d’ Bree” raised funds to pay for improvements to the clubhouse acoustics. The improvements will make the clubhouse a venue for programs such as chamber music, which is not composed for large auditoriums, fundraisers with authors reading from their books, or master classes in music.

“I am so happy to be here, and I am so scared,” Burgess Rosen said after the first standing ovation. “I couldn’t imagine anyone would come to hear me caterwaul for two hours.”

The intimate size of the room at the Woman’s Club lent itself admirably to Burgess Rosen’s nonscripted performance, which included personal anecdotes.

She confided that her life had taken a different direction than she thought it would as a young performer headed for Broadway.

She got there, but she hated New York and ended up in Las Vegas, where she “hung” with the Sammy Davis Jr., whom she called Mr. D, and had her first “dirty martini,” mixed by Dean Martin.

“But dreams that don’t come true are sometimes the best,” Burgess Rosen said.

The best change in direction in her life, she said, was the birth of her son, Noah, who was in Saturday’s audience.

Her pregnancy was unexpected, discovered in the middle of rehearsals for an early “Lagunatics,” which required some hasty revisions. Fans may remember Burgess Rosen singing and dancing as a mommy-to-be in search of the daddy.

“I never thought I could raise a child to be other than an axe murderer, and, lo and behold, he’s this really cool kid,” Burgess Rosen said, dedicating a song to him.

She also dedicated a song to her husband, Leon Rosen.

“I get these calls from friends at 2 a.m., saying ‘Have I got a song for you,’ and they are always about trashy whores — hello, I have been happily married 20 years and he’s right here,” Burgess Rosen said. “That’s one job I wouldn’t want.”

Burgess Rosen also acknowledged Barbara and Ed Gazich, who provided the gowns the diva wore for the concert: a short, black, beaded sheath, which showed off those legs, only seen on dancers in high heels, and a form-fitting, full-length red dress that weighed at least 20 pounds.

“And I want to thank Sande [St. John],” Burgess said. “She’s there for everyone.”

St. John was among the concert volunteers, which included Joanne and Philip Burkhardt, Andrea Miller, Chris Loidolt, Connie Burlin, Nicola Peterson, Angel Caban, Audrey Prosser, Rick Conkey, Marion Rice, Linda Dietrich, Ann Quilter and daughter Emily, Lee Winocur Field, Peggy Ford, Philip Rosenblatt III, Eliseo Hernandez, Gayle Waite and Renae Hinchey. “So many people have worked on this: it is like a mini ‘Lagunatics,’ ” said Burgess Rosen, who founded the “Roast of the Coast” and No Square Theatre. “The handprints on my back are Chris’.”

Chris Quilter, Rosen’s writing partner for “Lagunatics,” encouraged her to perform.

“I am nervous tonight and I was only involved in the beginning,” Quilter said.

The concert showcased Burgess Rosen’s versatility.

In one song, she went from jazz to operatic trills without missing a beat or a note.

“Her range is enormous,” said Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda, a singer of no meant talent herself.

The concert also showcased guest star Saif Eddin, who appeared in the very first “Lagunatics.” Eddin and Burgess Rosen sang a duet from “Phantom of the Opera,” for which he understudied Michael Crawford. After a solo, which he accompanied himself on the keyboard, Eddin beat a hasty retreat for the Hotel Laguna, where he performs on the first week of every month.

“After you all get through partying here, I am going to party there,” said Burgess Rosen, inviting the audience to join her.

The concert featured the “Divas in Waiting,” Burgess Rosen’s voice students: Amber Charton, Ericka Jones, Kelly Hancock and Sophia Tupy. “I am a real snob about who I will teach,” Burgess Rosen said. “I am very proud of them.”

The singers were backed by John-Henri on keyboard, Sue Cross on bass and Michael Fickling on drums.

Lynn Epstein served as mistress of ceremonies. Matt Borden was in charge of the audio.

The sound was super, the lighting not.

“What do you think we should do about the lights,” Burgess Rosen said. “Bidding starts at $5,000.

“I need some soft pastels. I am 47 for Christ’s sake. But you didn’t come to see me, you came to hear me — and you can.”

The concert drew toward a close with a song about goodbyes.

“Hold hands with the person you came with,” advice taken by Festival of Arts President Anita Mangels and Bill McKinney.

The concert ended as it began — with a standing ovation for d’Diva.

Among those recognized in the program for their contributions: all of the Quilters, Frank and Lee Winocur Field, Sherri Lebanoff, Ann Sheridan, Martha Lydick, Morris Skenderian, Steve Manahan, Bryan and Jeanne Stirrat, George and Debbie Meeker, Andy and Martha Anderson, Ken Jillson, Lloyd and Stella Charton, Penny King, Dick and Boe Landfield, Maggie Cook, Larry Lewis, Jean Fallowfield, John and Linda Martin, Joan Gladstone, Elizabeth Comiskey and Dr. Lee H. Novick, Patricia Powers, Carl and Diosa Golod, Kent Russell & friend, Doron and Yifat Goren, Kathleen Hargrave, Phil and Beverly Tupy, Tom and Rose Hancock, Barbara Williamson and Deborah Harris, Charles Schoen, Randy and Ginger Hatfield and Mayor Toni Iseman.

Special thanks went to Greg Butler, Bill Eldein, Sita Helms, Anne Johnson, Debbie Meeker, Peter Jones, Christopher Regan, Neighborhood Congregational Church, the No Square Theatre board of directors and Mangels.

Underwriters included Linda Brown, Paul Parks, Dancing Paws, Penfolds, Greg Dotts, Rosemont, Sue Drinser, Karin L. Godfrey, the Festival of Arts, Screw Kappa Napa, Kendall Jackson, Smoking Loon Wines, Kenwood Vineyards, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Tin Roof Wines, Lendeman’s Wine, Royal Wine Co., Ketel One, Rich Mishler, Peggie Thomas, Kevin Gorgen, Montage Resort & Spa, the lodging establishments of Laguna Beach and the city.