Chapman’s ‘Wish Upon a Star’ Pays Off

Two Orange County institutions--Chapman University and Disneyland--celebrated their longtime friendship Saturday when the university staged its 1993 American Celebration at the Anaheim Marriott hotel.

“When You Wish Upon a Star: The Wonderful World of Disney” was the theme of Chapman’s 12th annual gala, which saluted Walt Disney with a multimedia show put together by Chapman students. A sold-out crowd of 800 guests paid a minimum of $250 each to attend, raising a record $315,000 in gross proceeds for Chapman.

‘Be Our Guest’

The show mixed old film clips, new video and live entertainment to combine the talents of Disney artists with those of students and a few alumni from Chapman’s School of Communication Arts.

“Because the theme was Disney, we had great material to work with,” said Ron Thronson, show producer.

Highlights from Disney’s classic animated productions--from the first Mickey cartoon to “Aladdin”--put the audience in a nostalgic mood. The show also featured a video of university president James Doti and soon-to-retire Disneyland president Jack Lindquist strolling through Disneyland. Recalling the stir the cameras made when they shot the video, Doti told the crowd, “I just about had everyone convinced I was Clint Eastwood.”

Chapman singers, dancers and musicians performed Disney-inspired numbers, putting extra zip into “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” by delivering a high-energy, rap-influenced version of the vintage Disney tune. For the finale, students dressed as Mouseketeers were joined by a cast of Disney characters.

Guests enjoyed the show at tables adorned with mirrored tops and floral bouquets, where they were served a gourmet meal of puff pastry with mushrooms in white wine sauce, marinated duck salad, grilled veal chops with wild mushroom sauce and a chocolate and strawberry parfait.

Dream Machines

Chapman opened in Orange shortly before Disneyland’s opening in Anaheim in 1955, so the two have been close allies ever since.

“We’re about one semester older than they are,” quipped Roger Schnapp. He and his wife Candice, who sported sparkling Mickey Mouse earrings, were event chairmen.

Students from Chapman often work in the theme park. Some go on to pursue careers with Disney.

“We’ve teamed up on a number of projects with Disney,” Doti said. “This year the whole school is looking at the theme of leadership--Walt Disney was a real leader of Orange County.”

For Lindquist, attending the gala was one of his last official acts as president of the park. He was just 12 days from retirement.

“Getting out of a career is almost as difficult as getting into one,” he said.

Others attending were Glen and Dotti Stillwell, honorary chairmen; George Argyros, chairman of the board of Chapman, and his wife Judie; Zee Allred, Ernie and Edy Chapman, John and Donna Crean, Robert Divine, Tom and Jolene Fuentes, William Hall, Jerry and Maralou Harrington, Doy and Dee Henley, William and Rusty Hood, Takuya and Sandra Ishida, Edgar and Libby Pankey, Jo Ellen Qualls, Harry and Diane Rinker, Donald and DeeDee Sodaro, Charles and Nea Wickett, Harmon and Nadine Wilkinson and Betty Hutton Williams.