Party Planners Foresee Full Plate for 1991

Start spreadin’ the news . . .

Despite stormy economic predictions, it’s business as usual for Orange County social planners--they’re charting a party-crammed course for 1991.

First and foremost: the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Plans are in the formative stages, but one Center official who knows says “Center stalwarts ought to be circling Sept. 29 for fun and festivity.”

The anniversary launching will take place Sept. 20 when the Guilds of the Orange County Performing Arts Center stages its annual fashion show in Segerstrom Hall. Music and stage decor will be themed to highlight the Center’s past stage productions. “We’re having our first meeting for the show next week,” says Shari Esayian, chairwoman of the event which drew about 3,000 guests last year.

Esayian’s dream is to present “something dazzling with thousands clamoring for tickets,” she says. The Newport Beach resident isn’t worried about a recession. “We have safety in numbers for the event--a low ticket price and the ability to accommodate several thousand people.”

Guilds chairwoman Janice Johnson says plans for the show, which had its debut last year, are going “full forward.” The anniversary theme will permit the guilds to pay tribute to the entertainment that has filled the Center since its opening. “A lot of wonderful music and famous people have come across that stage,” says Johnson, wife of Center vice chairman (in charge of development) Roger Johnson.

Center officials are compiling a list of people who may want to serve on the anniversary party committee. Arts supporters who organized the opening-night gala in 1986 will be asked to become involved again. (One higher-up says the celebration will showcase several parties. “There’ll be something for everyone,” she says.)

Another party must will be the $500 per-person black-tie gala with Placido Domingo that will follow his performance in “Girl of the Golden West” in Segerstrom Hall on June 5. Up to 500 arts supporters are expected to cram the Center Club to hobnob in a party atmosphere that will evoke “the Old West,” says gala chairwoman Sue Perewozki (a near and dear of Domingo’s).

A tent will be erected on the club patio so guests will have plenty of elbow-rubbing room. Domingo gets bonus points for this benefit-splash: Not only does he plan to party after the show, he plans to attend the party honoring gala underwriters (at the Pacific Club--the date has not been set yet), and have lunch with the committee on May 31. The Performing Arts Center will be the beneficiary of all proceeds. Martha Green is co-chairwoman.

The year’s other major galas--the Orangewood Ball, Candlelight Concert, Opera Ball, Pacific Symphony gala, Protocol Ball--are a fait accompli for next year.

At the Hyatt Regency Irvine--site of last year’s Orangewood Ball, Candlelight Concert and Opera Ball--catering director Katharyn Sherman has seen no sign of hesitancy on the part of party planners. “People are going ahead, booking major events,” she says, “as if nothing has happened to the economy.

“We’re going to be as busy this year as last year. I think Orange County is committed to fund raising for the good of the community.

“Maybe some guests will be buying tickets instead of tables, but I’m not sure about that. You never know.” (Rumors persist that corporations will not be buying slews of tables for employees this year. They’ll be sending key representatives instead.)

Floss Schumacher--the social/arts cyclone who chaired the opening of the Performing Arts Center and who is now the chairwoman of the Opera Pacific board--says Orange County is “unbelievable.”

“Opera Pacific has just sold out ‘Madama Butterfly’ and added a matinee,” she says. “Orange County loves to go out, to celebrate.

“As for our Opera Ball, we don’t have any budget cuts. Our budgets only escalate.” Plans are also being formulated for a “Great Gatsby”-themed underwriter’s gala and a soiree in Palm Springs (where Schumacher now resides) is even on the calendar. “ ‘Madama Butterfly’ will play at the Mc Callum Theatre here on Jan. 22,” Schumacher says. “So, of course, we had to have a party at Harry Reinsch’s at Morningside on Jan. 21. We’ve got to get our name out. Opera Pacific’s name is in small print here. That curls my toes!”