Joffrey ‘Nutcracker’ Will Be Under L.A.’s Christmas Tree

Well, no matter how your candidate did, at least Christmas is coming.

And this year there’s a special present for Los Angeles--the Joffrey Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

In the mail are terrific-looking plaid invitations--looking very much like a preppy fellow’s holiday trousers and stuffed like a Santa stocking with goodies--announcing the Dec. 23 black-tie opening. The gala is the first of three special Joffrey evenings, all co-chaired by Sandra Ausman and Phyllis Hennigan as part of the ballet’s Patron Series.

David Murdock, the chairman of the ballet’s Los Angeles Founding Directors, is the series honorary chairman, and well he should be, Ausman said, since “he really gave a great deal of money” to make “The Nutcracker” possible. The party, including a pre-performance buffet, “wine and savories” at intermission, and post-curtain dinner and dancing, is hosted by the New York Times.

Over lunch, Ausman and Hennigan (who do benefit after benefit) said that this evening would involve not only various between-the-acts courses, but a complete change of scenery in the Grand Hall between intermission and the post-performance party. A “winter wonderland” is how they described it. “Trees, and an enchanted forest. . . . It will take a huge crew of volunteers to set up,” Ausman said. The centerpieces will be Nutcracker scenes--and, any willing guest may be a scene-stealer, since for $175, the centerpiece will be delivered to a buyer the next morning, Hennigan said.

Speaking of money, this year, for $1,000, a Patron Series person can attend the opening performances of the three ballets that are being performed in the fall and spring seasons, or, for $500, can attend the opening of “The Nutcracker.” Hennigan said she was encouraging Patrons to bring along “adult children.”

And, if that’s not in your league, Santa can always bring tickets to the week of “The Nutcracker” without a Patron party. The Mouse King is something else--even without pre-performance champagne.

HERE’S SCOPUS--And here’s Johnny Carson, soon to be announced as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s 19th annual Scopus Award winner. This year’s gala dinner, set for Jan. 15 at the Beverly Hilton, no doubt will be a lavish, high-ticket evening that’s par for this plush course. Other recipients have included Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg, Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, former President and Betty Ford, and the late Danny Kaye.

TOP BILLING--Jack Valenti, the president of the Motion Picture Assn. of America and the fellow who pioneered the Hollywood-Washington connection, will be honored as “pioneer” Dec. 12. Make that a Pioneer of the Year from the Foundation of the Motion Picture Pioneers--and it’s the organization’s 50th anniversary.

The dinner co-chairs include, of course, Valenti’s great friend Lew Wasserman as well as Sidney Sheinberg from MCA, Warner Bros.’ Bob Daly, 20th Century Fox’s Barry Diller, Orion’s Arthur Krim, Paramount’s Frank Mancuso, and Disney’s Michael Eisner and Frank Wells.

MCA’s Herb Steinberg is the program chair, and he’s already lined up Kirk Douglas to emcee. The $250-a-person evening at the Century Plaza will benefit the Assistance Program of the Motion Picture Pioneers, dedicated to aiding indigent veterans of the industry.

TAKING THE WRAPS OFF--When “Cocoon, the Return,” is unveiled at the Nov. 16 premiere at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Richard Zanuck is going to make sure it’s a winner in more ways than one. He and Andy Granatelli, the chairman of the board of the Institute for Cancer Blood and Research, have put together a fabulous fund-raiser. There will be gala buffet parties by Someone’s in the Kitchen, served up before and after the film--so much better to build up the strength to star watch.

AUSMAN AGAIN--Yes, it looks like Sandra Ausman’s handiwork--this time as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Governors and Trustees of the County Museum of Natural History honor the Consular Corps at a holiday dinner dance. The Dec. 3 party is at the museum and, it is stressed, is “very black tie.” Ausman’s association? She’s the county’s chief of protocol.