SCR/Party Play with Ann Conway

Bill Roberts, Music Director Dennis Castellano, Barbara Roberts, Director Stefan Novinski

U.S. Bank representatives Bill & Christy Cave and Steve & Lilly Takei with actor Damon Kirsche, center

Actor Amanda Naughton, right, with Elaine Weinberg, center and her granddaughter

FIRST NIGHTERS' PARTY HUMS
AFTER 'A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC'
By Ann Conway

"This is like coming home!" exclaimed actor Teri Ralston as she swept into the First Nighters' party following the Sept. 14 opening performance on Segerstrom Stage of A Little Night Music. "I was with SCR its very first year!"

Playing the world-weary and wise dowager Madame Armfeldt in the musical by Stephen Sondheim that weaves multiple tales of love, lust and loss is "such a joy to do," said Ralston, who appeared in the original 1973 Broadway production. "What a cast!"

And then she was off, mingling with fellow actors Stephanie Zimbalist (who played the lusty Desiree Armfeldt) and Mark Jacoby (playing the debonair and vulnerable Fredrik Egerman) and First Nighters to rhapsodize about the production as they balanced plates piled with Swedish fare (a culinary nod to the fact that the musical is based on Swedish director Ingmar Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night). Up for sampling from Mark's Catering as guests tapped their toes to a musical backdrop of show tunes: everything from savory, pop-in-your-mouth meatballs to chewy fish-shaped Swedish candies.

Also enjoying the party whirl was director Stefan Novinski, who recently directed Nighthawks at the Kirk Douglas Theater. "This musical examines how complicated life is," he said, emerging from a circle of joyful well-wishers. "It's about how confusing it is to be part of the Great Endurance—love, death, dinner parties!"

Welcoming the crowd to the launch of SCR's 44th season was Board President Larry Higby, who dubbed production underwriters Barbara and Bill Roberts as belonging to a category of “extraordinary honorary producers.”

"They have helped produce six shows in 15 years!" Higby noted. Also recognized from the stage before the show began was Bill Cave, Market President for underwriter U.S. Bank, and Media Partners Orange Coast and KPCC 89.3.

Helping underwrite productions at South Coast Repertory that have included The Philadelphia Story, Hedda Gabler, Cyrano de Bergerac, and A View from the Bridge "feels really good," a smiling Barbara Roberts said as she enjoyed the alfresco bash on Ela's Terrace. "It's wonderful to share it!"

Larry and Dee Higby, actor Joe Farrell	Ralph and Sue Stern, Nancy Meyer, Stephanie Zimbalist, Mike Meyer
Elaine Weinberg, Victoria Gray, actor Mark Jacoby, Bobbi Dauderman	Teri Kennady, Eric Hyman, actor Teri Ralston, Mark Levin, Linda Maggard
Bryan and Donna Williams, Diane and Charles Fish	Jason Gwin, Bryan Williams, Carolann Sanita (Anne Egerman) and Kim Kelley
Music Director Dennis Castellano, Barbara Roberts, Director Stefan Novinski	Mark's Catering
Justin and Barbara Call, Steve and Isabel Perlinski, Margaret and Tsu Lai	Donna Williams, Carolann Sanita (Anne Egerman), Nancy Kelley, Stacy Cheng