‘Aida’ keeps up the good name of the Center

If there are any seats left, make sure you visit the Orange County

Performing Arts Center before “Aida” closes Sunday. This contemporary

version of the classic love story revolving around the politics and

power of ancient Egypt comes alive as Elton John and Tim Rice put

there own spin on the power of romance.

Opening night last week featured a late-night soiree in Founder’s

Hall after the performance, which received a rousing ovation from the

local audience. Cast, crew, media and local dignitaries and

underwriters mingled at close to midnight in the “black box” behind

the Segerstrom stage, enjoying a fabulous supper prepared by

Maggiano’s. The evening was hosted by Disney, producer of the touring

Broadway show.

Center President Jerry Mandel and his lovely bride, Whitney, were

on hand bussing the crowd streaming into Founder’s.

The raves were unanimous.

“It was wonderful, and besides the dynamic performance, have you

ever seen such creative staging?” said Corona del Mar’s Fran

Mulvania, who sampled a bit of pasta and salad.

Mulvania was on the money. From the spectacular vertical palace

pool on a scrim to the shrinking burial chamber and the cubic tiered

prison, the images were spellbinding.

Mingling at the after-party were stars of the show including

Paulette Ivory, Jeremy Kushnier, Lisa Brescia, Asmeret Ghebremichael,

Eric Christian, Peter Kapetan and former pop-idol and member of the

group the Monkees, Micky Dolenz. Spotted in the crowd on opening

night were Newport’s Barbara and Jim Glabman, JoAnn Killingsworth of

Balboa Island, and local publisher Chris Schulz and his radiant wife,

Julie.

They are calling the expansion, “building on the vision”.

In other Center news, donors and dignitaries held a champagne

reception Monday afternoon on the site of the future Renee and Henry

Segerstrom Concert Hall and the Henry and Susan Samueli Theatre. A

white tent was erected on the dirt, surrounded by backhoes and

bulldozers for the commencement of the construction process.

The $200-million commitment began with a $4-million pledge from

Henry Segerstrom. To date, this project is more than half funded by

private dollars.

On this warm Monday, members of the families Segerstrom, Daniels

and Moriarty, all part of the extended funding associates, joined

center board President Paul Folino and a host of local supporters

witnessing the progress.

Henry Segerstrom addressed the crowd, recalling the process

leading to the expansion.

“When the Center opened in the 1980s, it was an immediate

success,” Segerstrom said. “It was suggested then, following a major

survey and market evaluation, that a concert hall should be built. We

embarked on the journey some 20 years ago. Today it officially

begins. July 7 is a very lucky day.”

“It also happens to be the day I met Elizabeth,” he added. “The

planets are well aligned.”

Elizabeth Segerstrom, looking very chic, beamed at the man she

clearly adores. The third Mrs. Segerstrom has been a gracious

advocate of the community effort championed by her formidable mate to

build this expansion to be named partially in honor of his late wife

Renee, an Orange County arts leader.

After a few appropriate speeches, the champagne glasses were

raised with the wish that July 7, 2004, would mark major progress on

the construction.

ALSO IN THE CROWD

The social dining crowd enjoyed a very unusual cooking demo at

Fashion Island before the Fourth of July hoopla on the coast.

Roy Yamaguchi, the internationally famous Hawaiian chef whose name

is a standard bearer for local cuisine, checked into the local Roy’s

restaurant to prepare a five-course dinner that was paired with the

wines of Ferrari-Carano. Yamaguchi had just prepared a similar event

in Aspen, Colo., attended by a host of Newport folks enjoying summer

in the Rockies.

Also on hand was actor Kevin Costner, often spotted dining at

Roy’s Fashion Island. Costner had plenty to say above his love of

Asian-fusion cooking, but was mum on his recent engagement.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.