Staging a Ballet Gala Worthy of a Prince

Why have black tie if you can have purple tie? Purple is more fun. That’s what fashionable dynamo Patricia Kennedy, chairwoman of the Joffrey Ballet’s upcoming “Purple Tie” gala, decided.

A peripatetic traveler, she’s in town stimulating excitement for the inaugural performance of “Billboards” with music by Prince on July 21 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. There will be only five performances here. The ballet opens this week in San Francisco after Iowa City, Washington and Chicago.

Last week, 150 pals joined Kennedy in Beverly Hills for Escada boutique manager Jeanne Roderick’s in-store cocktail reception saluting the Joffrey premiere. They chatted and viewed the youthful fall/winter collection designed by Escada’s new chief designer Michael Stolzenburg.

Supporters on hand: Suzanne and Michael Tennenbaum, Suzanne Marx, Marcia Wilson Hobbs, James A. Doolittle, Rick Robinson and Severyn Ashkenazy.

For the gala, 500 are expected. Already three of the $15,000 “Royal Purple” tables have been purchased by co-chairs Lenny Waronker and Ron Burkle. Edward James Olmos is also a co-chair.

Kennedy says Prince composed the rock ballet, featuring 13 of his compositions, after she coaxed him to give it a try.

*

60TH ANNIVERSARY: In the depths of the Great Depression, the bank that held the operating funds for the Rehabilitation Center at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles failed, and 60 women joined together to help make up the loss. They chose the name Las Madrinas--the godmothers. A few years later they staged their first charity debutante ball to raise funds. Since then, more than 1,200 families and their daughters have been honored for civic contributions.

Mary O’Connell presides over Las Madrinas this year. Recently Carlotta Keely hosted tea in her Hancock Park home to introduce the 31 new debutantes while Las Madrinas leaders, including Daisy Spurgin, Kay Onderdonk, Peggy Galbraith, Penne Durst and Barbara Fountain, circulated. Kacey McCoy will chair the December ball.

Said O’Connell: “Whatever path young women take today--career, family or a combination--we hope they will also make a personal commitment to the betterment of the community. That’s what Las Madrinas is all about.”

Debutantes and their families had earlier toured the hospital and heard about molecular genetics from Dr. Timothy Triche, Anne Wilson and Bill Mingst, and volunteer opportunities from Carole Patterson. A reception followed at the home of Bob and Cheryl Baker.

Debs include Katherine Cannon, Amanda Barrett, Catherine Daily, Laura Hunt, Devon Hollingsworth, Neville Anderson, Elena Grant, Danielle Ferraro, Katherine Carlson, Kathryne Chambers, Stefanie Fremdling, Catharine Erikson, Katherine Quinn, Kelley LeRoy, Anne Woolley, Cameron Westwater, Virginia Miller, Johanna Pirko, Sarah Kuehn, Katharine Kuehn, Candace Overland, Megan Keith, Emily Luck, Suzanne Huntley, Catherine Juillard, Katherine McRoskey, Elizabeth Rogers, Sarah Schoellkopf, Dorothy Shea, Mary Stephens and Barbara Thomas.

*

A ROSE GARDEN: The California Museum of Science and Industry and the California Museum Foundation promised a rose garden. They delivered seven acres of posies in full bloom for a fragrant night of wine and roses at their al fresco dinner and concert in Exposition Park. On hand was the Pasadena Symphony with Diane M. Wittry conducting. Earlier, in garden attire, more than 450 toured the “Mission to Mars” exhibition at Technology Hall. In the crowd, Betsy and Frank Ulf, Vida and Wally Fassler, Katherine Loker, Eliane and Peter Berger, Keith and Sandra Comrie, and museum President Keith W. Renken.

*

GOLD CUP: After the excitement of the $750,000 Gold Cup at Hollywood Park, taking Best Pal with owners John and Betty Mabee of San Diego County to the winner’s circle for roses, racing supporters went on to a “Sunset Ball” to benefit the Shoemaker Foundation.

Chairing the swinging ‘50s evening in the Cary Grant Pavilion were jockey Eddie Delahoussaye and his wife, Juanita, and Dr. Robert Kerlan and his wife, Rachel. The lively auction of stud services and racing memorabilia tallied a bundle to provide for seriously ill or injured men and women in the horse-racing industry.

Among those making a day and night of it: R. D. and Joan Dale Hubbard, Spud and Alyce Williamson (whose horse, Latin American, ran in the Gold Cup), Dr. Ruth Williamson, Joni and Clark Smith, Tom and Deedee Moffat, Madge and Marshall Cleland.

*

BIG BANG: The League for Children, benefiting the Children’s Bureau of Southern California, did a number for the Fourth of July--an all-American family barbecue and VIP parking for viewing fireworks at the Rose Bowl. Benefit co-chairs Sharon Melcher and Bonnie Leaver got Melcher’s dad, Art Linkletter, to host the evening. Among the guests were Vera O’Larry Handley and league President Mary Lou Hicks, both proud that the organization has raised more than $1 million to fight child abuse.

*

LUNCHEONS: The California Room at Chasen’s was packed for the Jeffrey Foundation’s celebrity fashion show with Victoria McMahon, Margie Petersen, Lorna Berle, Cheryl Reventlow modeling . . . Loyola Mothers Guild is still reveling in its luncheon. Among guests were Lynn Conrad, Dottie and Terry Clougherty, Kitsy Olson, Sally Edwards and Barbara Artukovich . . . John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary brought psychologist Barbara De Angelis for a “Love in the Afternoon” discussion at the Hotel Bel-Air . . . Pat Watts, assisted by Pat Johnson and Jackie Hempstead, co-chaired the Black Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton . . . Marianne Berman and Myrna Wisenfeld co-chaired the Haven House luncheon in Beverly Hills.