The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

They arrived in their spring fashion finery. The lovely ladies of the

Camelot Chapter in support of the Orange County Performing Arts Center

held their traditional patroness tea at the Pelican Hill Club, Newport

Coast. The occasion was celebrated with an elegant English tea served to

the ladies, who chose to attend wearing a vibrant assortment of

millinery. Dover Shore’s Nora Jorgenson Johnson chose a wide brim,

woven-straw bonnet with a blue sash to match her suit. MaryAnn Barnett

was smashing in her pink-and-black hat adorned with a coordinating pink

silk rose. Georgene Smith showed off her stylish linen suit with a

soft-brimmed chapeaux to match.

In the crowd were Camelot standouts including Rita Gunkel, Dottie

Stillwell, Elaine Basmajian, Gini Robins and nearly 100 additional

members of the Camelot chapter. The afternoon honored all the past

chairmen of the Guild who have contributed so much time and money to make

the Orange County Performing Arts Center, one of the finest facilities of

its kind in the country.

The committee responsible for the tea under the leadership of Ann

Lehman and Horty De la Plant pulled out all the stops. Members of the tea

committee are Bernice Copp, Betty DeFreise, Peggy Jo Sherrow, and Laura

Perry.

The chairwoman of the board of the Guilds, Gerri Goodreau was joined

by fellow board members Gail Daniels and Beverly Sandelman in welcoming

12 new members to the Camelot Chapter. Among the new recruits were Hope

Evens, Florance Klein, Amelia Willinger, Deborah Walton and Marilyn

Mowery.

A young singer from the Orange County High School of the Arts, Jenny

Geoffery, entertained the crowd from selections from American musical

theater. The talented vocalist also happened to be the granddaughter of

Nora Jorgenson Johnson.

The Camelot Chapter of the Guilds is one of the most respected and

admired groups in Orange County, serving the Center unselfishly, raising

hundreds of thousands of dollars.

* * *

The new chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Paul

Folino, will join past chairman and local social activist Mark Chapin

Johnson to host a gala dinner honoring former Secretary of State James A.

Baker. The special event, set for May 4, will be produced in conjunction

with Chapman University under the banner of the Global Citizens Gala.

The black-tie evening will be held at The Hutton Sports Center at

Chapman University, presided over by the much admired Chapman president

James Doti and his wife Lynn.

For more information, call (714) 744-7958.

* * *

Actress Pam Dawber, perhaps best known for her role as Mindy opposite

Robin Williams in the ‘80s television series “Mork and Mindy,” will grace

Newport Beach on May 11 as the honorary chair of a gala costume ball to

benefit the Newport Beach Theater Company.

Linda Safran, president of the theater company, said she is thrilled

to announce that this second annual fund-raising event is being billed as

“New York Masquerade.” Mega-generous Newport hosts John and Donna Crean

will open their expansive Back Bay estate for an evening that will

include a formaldinner, silent auction and entertainment provided by

young artists affiliated with the Newport Beach Theater Company.

Founded only one year ago, the company is a nonprofit organization

“dedicated to providing local youth an opportunity to learn about all

facets of the live performing arts,” offers Safran.

For more information, call (949) 759-1046.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.