Racing to Raise Money for Arts Center

Athletes and theater buffs, two groups with decidedly different interests, have found a common cause: the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Both will join forces June 5 when Mazda and the Guilds of the Performing Arts Center of Orange County stage a triathlon at Lake Mission Viejo to benefit the center. The triathlon is expected to attract more than 1,600 professional and amateur athletes, draw 10,000 spectators and raise about $50,000 for the center.

The Great Race

About 100 organizers and supporters of the triathlon came together last week at the center’s Founders Hall for a kickoff luncheon.

Michael Braunstein, race coordinator, offered a preview of the race. Amateurs will compete in a 1K swim, 30K bike ride and 8K run, he said, while professionals will go the full Olympic distance--a 1 1/2-kilometer swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run.

“It’s not as overwhelming as it might sound,” Braunstein said. “Most athletes have already done one discipline. (Amateurs can train for) this in three to four hours a week minimum, but more likely they’ll do 10 hours a week. The pros are training 30 to 40 hours a week.”

Named by Triathlon magazine as one of the top 10 triathlons in the world, the race is the qualifier for the Goodwill Games International Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia. The top three professional men and women finishers will represent the United States July 28 in the games.

Theresa Jennings, center staff member who met her fiance at last year’s triathlon, is training for the amateur competition.

“It’s hard fitting in all three athletic pursuits into your week. Usually I do two things a day--running and swimming--and I take long bike rides on the weekends,” she said. “My biggest concern is that I’ll forget my shoes” when switching events during the race.

Soprano Sounds Off

After dining on pasta, salmon and tiramisu provided by Tutto Mare of Fashion Island Newport Beach, guests were treated to a performance by soprano Alison England. England is one of the featured artists who goes out into the community to give free performances as part of the center’s Informally Yours program.

Bounding out in a jogging suit, England began the program by singing “Who Will Run This Wonderful Relay?” to the tune of “Who Will Buy?” from the musical “Oliver.” She then peeled off her warm-up outfit to reveal a turquoise pantsuit: “I hate running,” she joked. “I have soprano fat.”

Actually, the slender England at one point slipped a pillow under her blouse and, looking five months’ pregnant, stepped out from behind the piano singing: “I should have danced all night,” a takeoff from “My Fair Lady.”

There were a few serious moments, too, such as when England gave a soulful rendition of “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz.”

Still, no man in the room was safe when England launched into “You Made Me Love You.” She walked among the tables teasing the men, hugging them, running her fingers through their hair and even removing one’s glasses. Among her victims: a red-faced Tom Tomlinson, executive director and chief operating officer of the center.

Other faces in the crowd included: Marlene Short, chairwoman of the guilds; Jeanette Kleist and E.L. Smith, triathlon chairwomen; Carmine and Marilyn Anania, Sue Feldman, Kyle Kring, Jack Pitney, E. Gary Smith, Melly Sutherland and Bonne Wheeler.