OUR LAGUNA: Pageant gala pleases the crowd

Locals and celebrities celebrated 75 years of life imitating art at the 10th Annual Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters Gala on Aug. 23.

Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated Neil Patrick Harris hosted the sold-out gala, a fitting finale to the 2008 season.

“This show is in a class by itself,” Harris said. He especially admires the dedication of the volunteers.

“They come from all over, Harris said. “And they come every night. Some of them start as 10-year-olds and they just keep coming back.”

Harris wasn’t much older — just 12 — when he appeared in the 1988 film, “Clara’s Heart” with Whoopie Goldberg.

Working with Goldberg opened a lot of doors for Harris, he said.

Harris has performed on stage, screen and television, probably best known before his current series for “Doogie Howser, M.D,” which he played in from 16 to 19.

He has managed to make the transition from child actor to his adult role as Barney on the CBS comedy series “How I Met Your Mother,” bypassing the destructive conduct that has plagued other young actors.

“Maybe it was because I was raised in a small town and I have never been a big fan of fame,” Harris said. “And even as a youngster I dealt well with adults.”

Festival Board President Wayne Baglin presented a special award, designed by festival exhibitor Ralph Tarzian, to Harris and to Joe Mantegna. Mantegna hosted the gala in 2005 and attended this year with his family, wife, Arlene, and daughters, Mia and Gina.

“The success of our galas over the years would not have been possible without the generous support of people like Neil and Joe, who are so giving of their time in support of the arts,” Baglin said.

Mantegna is starring in “Criminal Minds,” replacing Mandy Patinkin, who bowed out of the show in 2007. The show changed with change in the cast, subtly, but definitely.

“It was a natural evolution and my desire,” Mantegna said.

The series focuses more on the team members and the victims, rather than on how the crimes affected the head honcho.

“I think the show is better now that all the characters are coming into their own,” Mantegna said.

Jerry Mathers came into his own on the “Leave It to Beaver” show. He was seated at the gala with his date, Theresa Modnick, Coastline Pilot city editor Cindy Frazier, and Catrina and festival board member Steven Dicterow.

Mathers’ attendance made it possible for Arts Commissioner Nancy Beverage to finally put right a youthful faux pas.

“I was about 11 and he was at the Balboa Bay Club,” Beverage said. “I went up to him and teased him unmercifully. It has always bothered me.”

Beverage took the opportunity presented at the gala to apologize, although she said Mathers didn’t have a clue who she was.

Kate Flannery, who plays Meridith Palmer on “The Office” shared a table with her escort, Chris Haston, Planning Commissioner Norm Grossman and City Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson.

It was a colorful table. Red-headed Flannery daringly wore a fuchsia silk sheath. Pearson shone in a banana-yellow, two-piece, sleeveless satin pant suit.

Joshua Malina, who played Will Bailey on the “West Wing” series, waved a jaunty thanks to people who complimented him as he strolled up to Tivoli Terrace, where dinner was being serviced.

Among the diners: Mayor Jane Egly; City Councilwoman Toni Iseman, in a cream Dana Buchman plisse suit that she picked up at a fundraiser for $20, accessorized with a scarf over a pleated pewter blouse; Councilman Kelly Boyd escorting his wife, Michelle, who wore a floral Betsy Johnson dress she picked up at the Assistance League’s Turnabout Shop for a pittance; and Jim and Arts Commission Chairwoman Pat Kollenda in a bagello-patterned knit dress.

Also: Troy and City Arts Manager Sian Poeschl, Lu and John Campbell, festival board members Fred Sattler, Ann Webster and John Hoover; Arts Commissioners Mike Tauber, Mary Ferguson and Terry Smith, former Mayor Wayne Peterson and Faye Baglin.

Out-of-town celebrities at the gala included Eric Close, who stars as Martin Fitzgerald on “Without a Trace;” Lauren Maher, cast as Scarlett in the “Pirates of the Caribbean Pirate” trilogy; 1976 Olympic gold medalist Bruce Furniss, who finished first in the 200-meter freestyle and the 4 X 200 Freestyle Relay, setting two world records; Chad Everett, who played Dr. Joe Gannon on “Medical Center” and Major Mercy in the TV epic “Centennial;” Belinda Montgomery, who played Katherine Howser on “Doogie;” Gordon Clapp, Emmy award-winner for his role on NYPD Blue and Gail O’Grady, thrice nominated for an Emmy for her role in the show; Michael Dudikoff, star of the “American Ninja” series; and former Rams quarterback, Jim Everett, who threw for 34,837 yards during his 12 years in the National Football League.

To my embarrassment, I blurted out to Everett, “I used to hate you,” excusing myself by explaining that I am a 49er fan, once the arch rivals of the Rams.

Bending down from his impressive height, he charmingly whispered in my ear, “Me too.”

Everett exchanged warm greetings with Michael and Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman.

Michael Kinsman was Everett’s professor at Pepperdine.

“He was one of the best and smartest students I have ever had,” Kinsman said.

Everett is now a financial advisor.

Television notables included Charles Shaughnessy, Drew Tyler Bell, “Baywatch’s” Michael Bergin; Orbit Gum’s blond pitchwoman Vanessa Burch, daytime Emmy nominee Patrika Darbo, “Charmed” actor Brian Krause, Kate Linder, Joseph Mascolo, MADTV’s Arden Myrin and Top Chef runner-up Marcel Vigneron, who also competed in the crowd-pleasing cook-off last year on the festival Green.

“They invited me to come and I was delighted,” Vigneron said.

“I want you all to go home and save the date, Aug. 27, 2033 — our 100th anniversary,” Baglin said. “It will be a big party and I want you all to be there.”

The sold-out 2008 gala grossed more than $300,000 to improve the festival grounds and structures. In 10 years, the galas have raised more than $2 million.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com