South Coast Repertory’s Patron Party Hosted by Rick Reiff and SCR Trustee Mary Ann Brown
COSTA MESA, CA. – On Wednesday, August 18, South Coast Repertory’s 2010 Gala Committee gathered for its traditional summer event to honor major underwriters. The Patron Party, hosted by SCR Trustee Mary Ann Brown and her husband Rick Reiff at their Laguna Beach home, generated pre-Gala excitement for “The Play’s the Thing.” The theatre’s 32nd annual Gala Ball will kick off Orange County’s theatrical and social seasons on September 11.
Mary Ann and Rick welcomed guests to the elegant summer event, which began under predictably blue skies as guests walked up a stairway—white-carpeted for the event—into the modern home with its stunning ocean view. To enhance the home’s tropical feeling, orchids were placed throughout the living room and on the balcony, where guests gathered as dusk fell, sampling appetizers and desserts provided by Mark’s Catering and sipping fine wines (in including “Danuta” Cabernet Sauvignon, donated by Danuta Schenke), martinis and champagne.
Centerpieces provided by Floral Creations by Enzo adorned the dining room table with its cheese and crudités platters. Adding to the tropical feeling, cocktail tables with shimmering turquoise cloths were replete with Mediterranean delicacies. Tray-passed hors d’oeuvres included chicken lollipops with soy glaze, grilled vegetable bruschetta, chicken quesadillas and summer rolls.
SCR’s 2010-2011 Board President Thomas Phelps thanked Rick and Mary Ann for generously hosting the party at their beautiful home, adding kudos to Gala Chair Sophie Cripe and her committee for their dedication to the theatre and hard work on its behalf. He also commended SCR’s Gala patrons for responding so strongly with their support.
Sophie added her thanks to the table hosts and major underwriters, reminding everyone that the Gala represents the first and one of the largest gifts to SCR’s Annual Fund and supports the theatre’s important education programs. “My thanks go out to our great Committee, who have planned an evening filled with astonishing theatricality that will evoke the artistry and magic of SCR—and will honor two men of great vision. David Emmes and Martin Benson have proven through the years that, indeed, ‘The Play’s the Thing!’” She also thanked the generous patrons Cartier, for donating the Gala favors, and John Tu for the donation of his popular band, JT and the California Dreamin’.
She added that a big surprise was in store, reminding them of past well kept Gala secrets—Broadway star Douglas Sills singing at the “Nothing But Blue Skies” Gala and Jean Weiss, Betty Huang and Dee Higby as “J.T.’s Dreamgirls” at the “Midsummer Night’s Dream” Gala. “This year’s big surprise will be another entertainment coup,” she promised, but gave no hints. “You’ll have to be there!”
Sophie introduced Emmes, who said, “We’re indebted to all of you for your enthusiasm and hard work and for your significant contribution to the Annual Fund. This year especially, in spite of continuing economic uncertainty, we are grateful that support for SCR, and its future as a force in American theatre, has not waned.
“I know that this Gala is going to be an exciting event. And, just six days later, there’ll be more excitement for Orange County when the 47th Season opens with George Bernard Shaw’s Misalliance, which Martin will direct. But it all starts with the Gala and I, for one, can’t wait to join in the fun.”
Leading many months of diligent work to assure the success of “The Play’s the Thing” are Gala Committee Co-chairs Olivia Johnson and Teri Kennady (underwriting), Bette Aitken and Pam Muzzy (décor), Elizabeth An and Betty Huang (entertainment), Linda Hovee (graphics), Ashleigh Aitken and Gail Doe (cuisine) and Beth Phelps and Laurie Smits Staude (hospitality).
Gala committee members are: Julianne Argyros, Toni Berlinger, Susan Bowman, Dede Brink, Donna Cohn, Yolanda DeLaPaz, Susan Ehrlich, Patricia Ellis, Valerie Fearns, Kathryn Glassmyer, Nadine Hall, Marlene Hamontree, Dee Higby, Lydia Wang Himes, Mimi Holcombe, Joan Kaloustian, Sidney Kirkup, Elaine Krajanowski, Linda Maggard, Diana Martin, Sue Murphy, Pat Neisser, Stacey Nicholas, Michelle Rohé, Danuta Schenke, Nola Schneer, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Jan Seitz Jashinski, Connie Spenuzza, Ardelle St. George, Jane Taylor, Kathy Taylor, Elaine Weinberg and Linda White. For more information about “The Play’s the Thing,” Saturday, September 11 from 6 pm until midnight at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, or for photographs of the Patron Party, please contact Madeline Porter (714) 708-5562 (mad@scr.org.)
Patron Party Guests: Wylie and Bette Aitken, Rick Reiff and Mary Ann Brown, Jo Ellen Chatham, Larry and Sophie Cripe, Ernie and Gail Doe, Jim and Jane Driscoll, Bob and Susan Ehrlich, Patricia Ellis, David Emmes and Paula Tomei, Bob and Nadine Hall, Bob and Mimi Holcombe, S.L. and Betty Huang, Andrew and Olivia Johnson, David Krajanowski, John Murphy, Carl Neisser, Robert Palmer, Elizabeth Pearson, Tom and Beth Phelps, Tom Rogers and Sally Anderson, Bill and Barbara Roberts, Michelle Rohé, Nola Schneer, Ralph Baumann and Jan Seitz Jashinski, Peter and Connie Spenuzza, Don Carnegie and Ardelle St. George, Richard and Jane Taylor and Elaine Weinberg and Bill and Robert Weinberg
