SCR Gala Patron Party Hosted by Bette and Wylie Aitken
Past SCR Gala Chair and past Board President open home to major donors
COSTA MESA, CA – August 25, 2011. One of the most anticipated parties of summertime, South Coast Repertory’s Gala Patron Party, was hosted tonight by Bette and Wylie Aitken at their oceanfront home.
The always-elegant event to honor major donors traditionally occurs a few weeks prior to the theatre’s annual Gala Ball, which opens the social and theatrical seasons in Orange County. The 2011 Gala, “THEATRE MAGIC: The Black & White Ball,” will be held on September 10 at Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel.
According to Bette, “We’re thrilled to be hosting the Patron Party because it generates so much excitement among Gala underwriters and gives them a little taste of what’s coming up at the Gala itself.”
A two-time Gala Chair, Bette knows how to generate excitement, and the Patron Party did just that, led by the Aitkens, wearing black and white, and filling their home with white candles and flowers (Floral Creations by Enzo) on black linens. “We love introducing the Gala theme into our new beach cottage,” Bette said, adding that the Patron Party was the first official event in the cottage. “We wanted to inaugurate it with an SCR bash!”
SCR Board President Tom Phelps welcomed guests and thanked the Aitkens for hosting the event. He acknowledged Founding Artistic Director David Emmes and introduced Gala Chairs Elaine Weinberg and Nancy Dahan. The mother-daughter team (the first in SCR history) effusively thanked the Gala patrons and the Gala Committee’s hard-working (and fun-loving) co-chairs and members, as well as Gala favor sponsor, Molton Brown, represented by Store Manager Melinda Bustamante.
Elaine and Nancy introduced SCR’s new Artistic Director Marc Masterson and his co-CEO, Managing Director Paula Tomei, who spoke of the role played by Gala patrons in SCR’s success, noting that proceeds from the Gala represented not only the first but the largest gift to the theatre’s Annual Fund. Marc and Paula talked about the educational programs that benefitted from the Gala’s significant gift and spoke briefly about the upcoming season, which will be Marc’s first as artistic director. They added their thanks to Kathryn Glassmyer and the decades-long partnership with South Coast Plaza and added their thanks to Bette and Wylie. Paula also acknowledged Marc’s wife, Patricia Melvin, attending her first official SCR event.
During the party, Elaine and Nancy mingled with the guests and shared their excitement about the upcoming Gala, a sophisticated black-and-white event that will be enhanced by the element of magic. “Because,” Elaine said, “theatre is such a magical art form.” That element will include a bevy of top professional magicians, who will perform during the reception, lead guests into the ballroom and work their magic during the twilit shank of the evening, before leaving everyone to dine and dance until midnight.
Nancy talked about her excitement as Gala chair and her long association with SCR. “I’ve enjoyed the theatre since my brothers and I attended as children,” she said, “and now so do my children and their cousins, so the legacy continues.”
Nancy also gave away a not-so-secret Gala surprise—feathered Venetian masks on sticks will be given to guests as they arrive at the Ball. “That will add just the right touch of theatricality to the black and white theme and the magical mood.”
Elaine Weinberg and Nancy Dahan
Elaine and her late husband, Martin, were among the theatre’s most enthusiastic and stalwart supporters. They both served as SCR Trustees and supported all of SCR’s major fundraising campaigns. Over the years, they were Honorary Producers of seven plays. More recently, Elaine underwrote The Importance of Being Earnest in 2008 and You, Nero in 2009. For the past five seasons, she has underwritten the NewSCRipts series of play development and staged readings.
Like her parents, Nancy is an attorney. She has been active in family law since 1988 and partner in Dahan and Brown since 2000. She and her husband, Victor, are members of SCR’s Golden Circle of donors and subscribers to the Segerstrom Stage, and Nancy joins her mother in enthusiastic support for NewSCRipts.
Wylie and Bette Aitken
Wylie served ten years on the Board of Trustees, (2000-2010), and led the Board as president for two years (2009 and 2010). Bette is serving her first year on the Board and chairing the Platinum Circle Committee. She chaired the Galas “All Aboard the Orient Express” and “Nothing But Blue Skies.” Together, the Aitkens have been First Nights subscribers, Gala underwriters and Platinum Circle members since 1998. They are also major contributors to SCR’s Next Stage Campaign and Legacy Campaign. They have been Honorary Producers of five SCR productions.
Gala Committee
Ashleigh Aitken (co-chair, entertainment), Bette Aitken (chair, underwriting), Julianne Argyros, Randy Morrison Baird, Toni Berlinger, Susan Bowman, Dede Brink, Donna Cohn (co-chair, entertainment), Sophie Cripe (co-chair, graphics), Gail Doe, Susan Ehrlich, Patricia Ellis, Valerie Fearns, Kathryn Glassmyer, Nadine Hall (co-chair, décor), Marlene Hamontree (co-chair, décor), Danuta Herber, Dee Higby, Mimi Holcombe (co-chair, cuisine), Linda Hovee, Betty Eu Huang (co-chair, hospitality), Olivia Johnson, Joan Kaloustian, Teri Kennady (co-chair, décor), Elaine Krajanowski, Linda Maggard, Diana Martin, Sue Murphy, Pam Muzzy, Pat Neisser, Stacey Nicholas, Beth Phelps (co-chair, hospitality), Carolina Prichard, Barbara Roberts, Nola Schneer, Jan Seitz Jashinski, Ardelle St. George, Laurie Smits Staude (co-chair, graphics), Jane Taylor, Kathy Taylor, Julie Ann Ulcickas (co-chair, cuisine), Socorro Vasquez, Bailey Weinberg, Eva Weinberg, Marci Maietta Weinberg, Gayle Widyolar.
For more information on SCR’s 2011 Gala “THEATRE MAGIC: The Black & White Ball” on September 10 at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel, please call SCR Director of Development Susan C. Reeder at (714) 708-5518.
