Fashion Models Watch Themselves on Parade

Family home videos it wasn’t. But for the 100 women gathered at the Black Box Theatre in the Orange County Performing Arts Center recently, it was better. Much better.

After more than a month of waiting, models in the Guilds of the Performing Arts Center’s September fashion spectacular--”The Center of Fashion”--got to watch the show. On video.

Settling back on folding chairs at tables done up with roses, the women oohed, aahed and squealed as they watched themselves parade before more than 3,000 guests in the first fashion show held in Segerstrom Hall.

Among the models was Judie Argyros, who came down with the giggles after watching herself vamp on the ramp in a drop-dead ensemble by D.N. Evans.

On the screen, Argyros--wife of Forbes 400 developer George Argyros--looked like a modern Cinderella in silk taffeta, lace and veiled cocktail hat. But schmoozing with fellow models in the Black Box, she looked ultra-modern in jersey and leather embellished with beads and chains. “This is an outfit that I can only wear with the girls,” Argyros confessed. “George hates it.”

The models left with a special keepsake--their own copies of the videocassette.

Also among the throng: Guilds chairwoman Janice Johnson and Shari Essayian, chairwoman of next year’s Center of Fashion.

Two Singular Sensations: “Chorus Line,” that singularly sensational kick of a musical, made its debut at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on Tuesday night.

Among guests who gathered for a post-performance bash at Birraporetti’s was Center board member Timothy Strader and his wife, Susan, and Center President Thomas Kendrick and his wife, Judy Morr (Center general manager).

“Judy was in a chorus line once,” whispered Kendrick, sipping something cool as he waited for the cast to arrive. Morr blushed. The secret to being a great chorine? “Consistency,” Morr said. “When you’re a chorus girl, you have to be like everybody else.”

Guests dined on pizza and pasta dishes in a room dotted with gold and black balloons and top hats. (The restaurant’s banquet manager, Dolores Aleccia, said she loves decorating the Irish-Italian bistro for the Center’s parties.) Jazz pianist Jon Garner kept guests’ toes tapping. And, tempting guests was a white sheet-cake emblazoned with the words, Chorus Line. The dancers dug into it with gusto. (No problem downing cake smothered with Kahlua cream when you dance your socks off every night.) The show continues through Sunday.

The Center’s other singular sensation--its annual Christmas Candlelight Concert--is being held Dec. 9 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Up for some emotional listening: the Boys Choir of Harlem, known throughout the world for its angelic sound.

The choir was established in New York in the ‘60s to build self-esteem among inner-city children and provide an alternative to the street scene. This morning at the Center Club, an early-bird breakfast is being staged for the ball’s angels--South Coast Plaza, the Hyatt Regency Irvine, Tiffany & Co. and American Airlines--and committee members. Ciel Woodman is gala chairwoman. Tickets are still available.

Celebration!: Raising more than $50,000 at a benefit luncheon is music to any fund-raiser’s ears. But big bucks are especially dear to the Orange County Philharmonic Society, sponsors of music programs for 300,000 local youth annually.

Last week, about 700 Philharmonic supporters--dressed to kill in autumn finery (hats are in and so are headbands--luncheon chairwoman Ann Stern sported one) congregated at the Hyatt Regency Irvine for “Celebration of Music.” They bid on 250 auction items before they dined and viewed a fashion extravaganza staged by Saks Fifth Avenue.

Among guests were Marcia Coy, chairwoman of the Philharmonic’s women’s committees; Eva Schneider; Susan Beechner; Wolf Stern; Bob Searles, society president; Elaine Redfield; Erich Vollmer, the society’s executive director; Bobbitt Williams; Barbara Mason; Ann Pange; and Ed Halvajian, chairman of the Philharmonic board.

Home run for charity: Hundreds gathered at South Coast Plaza’s Crystal Court last week to dine at the culinary extravaganza that annually benefits Orange County’s Food Distribution Center. Two dozen wineries and several plaza restaurants--Antonello, Bangkok Four, Gustaf Anders and Gianni, among them--kicked in specialties so guests could fill up to feed the hungry.

Getting almost as much attention as the mouth-watering fare were Angel pitcher Kirk McCaskill and his wife, Dana. The handsome couple anted up a $16,000 donation to the distribution center from an organization they founded, Strike Out Hunger. Also among guests were event co-chairmen Timothy Maurier and Timothy McMahon.

Butterflies are free: Interval House has dubbed its annual Thanksgiving ball “Le Bal des Papillons”--the ball of the butterflies. It’s an appropriate theme for a gala that annually raises funds to free women from the cocoon of abuse. Word’s out that artist Karen Toda has designed 500 gossamer butterflies for the affair.

The Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point is the site of the $200 per-person black-tie gala, which will feature a gourmet dinner, dancing to the West Coast Music Orchestra and an auction with items that include European and spa vacations. Tickets are still available. This extraordinary event has become Orange County’s signature Thanksgiving gala.

*STAGE REVIEW: An appraisal of “A Chorus Line” appears in Calendar. F2