THE CROWD: SCR’s ‘Affair in Shanghai’ raises $600,000>

The 2008 social season on the California Riviera debuted last Saturday night with an Orange County tradition celebrating a 44-year milestone. South Coast Repertory Theater threw its September bash, Affair in Shanghai, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Laguna Niguel, raising more than $600,000 for the theater’s annual fund.

The evening trumpeted the beginning of SCR’s 44th season in Orange County and demonstrated community support for the performance arts in Orange County.

Chaired by Betty Huang, Affair in Shanghai was a glamorous evening infused with Asian-inspired mystery and romance. Betty and husband S.L. traveled to China multiple times to purchase the artistic embellishments that gave the event its touch.

As the crowd arrived at the Ritz Carlton they were ushered down the exterior stairs to a lower garden terrace that had been decorated to resemble an alley in old Shanghai.

Red colored lanterns were strung from the rafters between the hotel buildings and a Chinese pagoda with a golden top had been erected over the Mediterranean courtyard fountain.

Later in the evening the cocktail terrace would be turned into a Chinese bazaar complete with fortune tellers, calligraphers working on parchment and even a bird seller peddling his feathered wares.

In another corner a game of mah-jongg captivated guests of SCR. Coffees and teas were served with Asian cookies and chocolate truffles, all in celebration of the year of the Red Fire Pig, which is a lucky symbol in Chinese mythology.

SCR directors David Emmes and Martin Benson welcomed the crowd and presented Huang with a floral spray and thank you for her effort. Huang said , “I haven’t received flowers in 20 years.”

All through the evening friends of SCR and committee members who had worked with Betty on the party repeatedly commented on her charm and selfless attitude.

“She never takes any credit for her success instead praising others for their support,” said SCR patroness Pat Neisser of Newport Beach attending the gala with husband, Carl.

“Absolutely everybody is here tonight,” said Neisser. “It is a wonderful and successful evening for SCR and certainly a tribute to the community.”

A majority of local movers and shakers turned out to help Huang raise $600,000 for the theater, which exceeded the goal by $100,000.

Spotted in the crowd were Olivia and Andrew Johnson; Dori Caillouette; Barbara and David Cline; Linda and Bob Hovee; Jerry and Bobbi Dauderman; Marion and Roger Palley; Teri Kennady and Eric Hyman; Valerie and Geoff Fearns; Wylie and Betty Aitken; Charles and Twyla Martin;Pat and Gene Hancock; Gail and Ernie Doe; and from Wells Fargo Bank, Elliot and Janet Ichinose.

Also supporting SCR were Bill and Carolyn Klein;Yvonne and Damien Jordan; Nancy and Jim Baldwin; Anton and Jennifer Segerstrom; Linda and Tod White; Aletha and Christian Anderson; and from City National Bank, Tom Rogers and Sally Anderson.

Major SCR patron Paul Folino and his wife, Daranne, sponsored many guests from his corporation, Emulex, including Kathy Cole, Tracy Bintliff, Robin Austin and Dottie Small. James Jaeger and his wife, Michelle,represented Deloitte & Touche; Tom and Marilyn Sutton hosted a table for Pacific Life; and Sara Murr came to support SCR on behalf of Boeing Co.

Doug and Melinda McCrea and Michael and Lindsay Davis hosted guests from Deutsche Bank.

The ballroom was filled with both individual and corporate sponsors representing Orange County society.

A three-course dinner was served as a 28-piece orchestral band entertained.

SCR board president Larry Higby and his wife Dee of Newport Beach addressed the assemblage and welcomed patroness Julianne Argyros to the microphone. The petite brunet, wearing a Chinese red strapless ball gown, warmly thanked her longtime friends in attendance for their support of SCR.

With the recent renovation of the theater in Costa Mesa one of the stages has been named for Argyros, given the generous donations that have come from the Argyros Foundation over the years. Argyros ended her thank-you by telling the crowd that she and her husband George wanted to make an extra donation to SCR that evening.

A woman seated next to me whispered “I bet they’re going to give an extra $100,000 to raise the tally to $700,000.”

Argyros paused and then told the crowd that she and George wanted to give SCR $10 million.

George Argyros came up to the microphone to join Julianne and said, “I didn’t know we had $10 million dollars,” at which point the audience stood and delivered a five-minute standing ovation.

Larry Higby took the microphone and said, “That’s it! We can say no more.”

He was right.

There were no more speeches and the crowd danced until midnight. Huang and her husband reveled in the spotlight and the success of their party launching the social season for 2008 in Orange County.