SCR/Party Play with Ann Conway

David Emmes, Martin Benson, Bette Aitken and Larry Higby

Bette Aitken, Nadine Hall, Donna Phelps, Ashleigh Aitken

The Ballroom

Dee Higby, Paula Tomei, Martin and Wendy Benson

SCR GALA RAISES A RECORD-BREAKING $500,000
By Ann Conway

"The dining car is open!" proclaimed SCR Producing Artistic Director David Emmes, after thanking the hundreds of arts patrons who helped raise a record-breaking $500,000-plus for the theatre's Annual Fund at its season-opening Gala, "All Aboard the Orient Express!"

And what a 'dining car.' The ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa had been transformed into one huge vintage First Class compartment, with crisp white cloths, shimmering cafe lamps, orchid-bedecked tables and glimmering crystal and china. On the menu for the heady 'trip' from Paris to Istanbul: creamy lobster bisque, beef tenderloin with jumbo prawns and macerated berries laced with Grand Marnier. Also on the play-list: some ultra-nostalgic listening and dancing to the tunes of the Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Orchestra.

"Welcome aboard!" said SCR Board President Larry Higby. "Your support helps make it possible to produce outstanding plays and to reach over 68,000 children in our community through the theatre's education and outreach programs."

Besides the world premiere of Julia Cho's The Piano Teacher (March 11), SCR's 43rd season will include its first production of Hamlet (opening May 25), noted Artistic Director Martin Benson. “Hamlet is perhaps the greatest play of all time."

Arriving guests were greeted at a bustling Paris train station — complete with fresh flower stands and kiosks plastered with travel posters — by 'characters' who looked like they'd stepped out of an Agatha Christie page-turner. As they sipped cocktails and sampled gourmet appetizers, guests mingled with members of Russian royalty, stars of the British stage, spies, smugglers, society burglars and more. Suddenly, they'd been transported onto an international stage.

"We live in tense times — this takes us out of our own little worlds," observed Karen Hensel, an actress who is director of SCR's Professional Conservatory Program and directed the shill 'characters' at the Gala. "Many of these characters are former students of mine and some teach in my program."

Gala Chairwoman Bette Aitken chose to adopt the persona of Southern author Harper Lee for the Sept. 9 fun-fest. Aitken's lawyer husband, Wylie, came as Lee's good friend, Truman Capote.

"I'm sooooo excited that people are having a goooood time," Bette drawled as she gazed at guests chatting animatedly at their dining tables or floating across the dance floor. "This is what it's allllll about."

Also on the scene:  Chris and Aletha Anderson, Larry and Deborah Bridges, Nick and Jennifer Dauderman, Betty and S.L. Huang, Joan Kaloustian, Nancy and Kim Kelley and Michael Penn.

Photos by Debora Robinson

Wylie and Bette Aitken, Barbara and Jeff Bennett	David Emmes, Bette and Wylie Aitken and Martin Benson
Rich and Donna Cohn, Laurie and Darren Aitken	The Dancefloor
The Gala Committee	Elaine Weinberg, Sue Stern, Jene Witte, Sheila Sonenshine

Ashley Aitken and Caroline Kelley Gray	Bob and Xin Barron	Gail Doe with "L'entourage" characters Paul Norling and Audra Granville

Nadine Hall and Donna Phelps	Ralph Baumann, Jan Seitz Jashinski, Bette and Wylie Aitken
Linda Gehringer and Larry Higby	Andy Johnson, Barbara and Jim Glabman, Olivia Johnson
Bette Aitken, Paul Makarechian, Anna Lake	Tom Rogers, Sally Anderson with "L'entourage" traveller Paul Norling
Joe Rosner, Courtney DeCosky ("Paplova"), Ary Katz ("Franz"), Judy Rosner	Gail Soderling, "Franz" (Ary Katz) and "Paplova" (Courtney DeCosky
"Bridget," portrayed by actor Alexandra Creighton, at her easel, while former SCR Board President Tom Sutton and his wife Marilyn look on	Teri Kennady with "L'entourage" characters  Audra Granville and Paul Norling
Bruce and Diana Guyette and S.L. Huang	Leandro Cano ("Boris"), Wendy Benson, Leena Lambert ("Natalie"), SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson
Wylie Aitken (left, in the guise of Truman Capote) with Mark Robinson and Michele Lane	SCR Trustee Emeritus Elaine Weinberg with two of her sons, David left and Paul in front of cutouts representing the era of continental travel on the Orient Express

Robert Plumleigh and his granddaughter Claire Marie Cortney	Mary Ann Brown and Rick Reiff	Barbara and Bill Roberts Susan and Bob Ehrlich
Mitchell and Meryl Greenhill	Sue Stern (center) with Leandro Cano ("Boris") and Leena Lambert ("Natalie")	Linda and Bob Hovee
Ashton and Ashley Good	Sam and Marlene Hammontree with Audra Granville	Gail and Ron Soderling