Bette Aitken Chairs SCR 2009 Gala Ball Nothing But Blue Skies
COSTA MESA, Calif. (April 16, 2009)— Bette Aitken will chair South Coast Repertory’s 2009 Gala Ball, “Nothing But Blue Skies,” to be held on September 12 at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort. The annual fund-raiser traditionally opens the social and theatrical seasons in Orange County and provides the first, and one of the largest, donations to SCR’s Annual Fund.
At the Gala Committee’s luncheon meeting on the Julianne Argyros Stage March 25, Aitken welcomed everyone and quickly admitted, “I’m dying to talk about the theme!” She added that “Nothing But Blue Skies” was the perfect title for what will be a glorious party.
“Our Gala will reflect the spirit of the Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire movie Blue Skies — with all of its delightful Irving Berlin songs,” Aitken said. “But this party will have the advantage of being produced by the brilliant artists here at SCR.”
The theatre’s production department works with the Gala Committee to produce the fund-raising event each season. According to Tom Buderwitz, who will design the Gala, “Our skilled artisans perform their magic whether it’s for a show on one of SCR’s stages or for the Gala — no matter where it’s held, and the Bay Club is a great venue.”
Aitken has been a member of the Gala Committee for the past eight seasons, and she chaired the successful All Aboard the Orient Express Gala just three years ago. “The 2006 Gala was such a great experience that I was happy to step up as chair again. And, because these are difficult economic times, I wanted to accept the challenge of leading the Committee to another success. I’m convinced our event will prove that the community can come together for a fabulous party — and raise much-needed funds for our wonderful theatre.
Gala Committee members agreed as they began planning for the September 12 event. According to Decor Co-Chair Betty Huang, “Blue Skies was filmed during Hollywood’s Golden Age, when movie musicals were a much-needed distraction from the Great Depression and the Second World War. Those films boosted the spirits of America with their glamorous look. Our Gala will do the same!”
Entertainment Co-Chair Elaine Weinberg added, “It’s going to be exciting to re-create that light-hearted feeling of fun and fantasy. We’ll dance to music by composers like Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Jerome Kern. This will be an uplifting event for Orange County.”
Aitken and her husband, SCR Board President Wylie Aitken, were major donors to $50 million fund-raising effort, “SCR: The Next Stage” and are currently Honorary Producers of Emilie – La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight, which runs on the Argyros Stage through May 10. The Aitkins previously supported the theatre as members of the 2006-07 Playwrights Circle, which underwrote My Wandering Boy, and last season were one of four couples who underwrote the Pacific Playwrights Festival.
Bette Aitken is a dynamic community leader, whose charitable activities include Anaheim’s Museo, Anaheim Historical Museum, Orange County Performing Arts Center, Elizabeth Glaser Pedicatric AIDS Foundation, Women in Leadership, Laura’s House and California State University, Fullerton, her alma mater.
Wylie Aitken joined the Board of Trustees in 2000 and served as vice president, development, 2006-07. He is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and founding partner of Aitken*Aitken*Cohn in Santa Ana. He was the youngest president in the history of the State Trial Bar and is continually recognized by LawDragon Magazine as one of the “Top 500 Lawyers in America,” and Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of “The Top 100” California's Most Influential Lawyers. He has been repeatedly designated a “Southern California Super Lawyer” and featured in Best Lawyers in America and The Preeminent Lawyers of America.
Gala Co-Chairs are Sophie Cripe, Underwriting; Marlene Hamontree and Teri Kennady, Cuisine; Danuta Schenke, Decor; Donna Cohn, Entertainment; Pam Muzzy and Nancy Kelley, Graphics; Ashleigh Aitken, Valerie Fearns and Laurie Smits Staude, Hospitality.
Other Committee members are Julianne Argyros, Randy Morrison Baird, Toni Berlinger, Dede Brink, Ishani Dillon, Gail Doe, Susan Ehrlich, Patricia Ellis, Daranne Folino, Kathryn Glassmyer, Nadine Hall, Dee Higby, Linda Hovee, Olivia Johnson, Joan Kaloustian, Linda Maggard, Diana Martin, Pam Muzzy, Pat Neisser, Stacey Nicholas, Beth Phelps, Barbara Roberts, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Debbie Simon, Connie Spenuzza, Ardelle St. George, Jan Seitz Jashinski, Jane Taylor, Kathy Taylor, Julie Ulcickas and Jean Weiss.
For more information on SCR’s 2008 Gala Ball, please visit www.scr.org or contact SCR Director of Development Susan C. Reeder (714) 708-5518.
