Broadway Diva Reaps Applause, Applause

The scene: Still fresh after an emotion-packed appearance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Broadway diva Patti LuPone joined center donors and members of the Young Presidents Organization on Tuesday for a supper in her honor at the Center Club in Costa Mesa. Guests applauded the original star of the stage production of “Evita” as she swept into the party on the arm of her husband, Matthew Johnston.

Getting it straight: As soon as the singer arrived, she apologized to Judy Morr--the center’s acting chief operating officer and director of programming--for mispronouncing the name of the center during her show, “Patti LuPone on Broadway.” After two attempts--”Orange County Performing Playhouse” and “Orange County Performing Center,”--LuPone got it right in the second act.

With her hectic schedule, it is no wonder LuPone has difficulty getting the names of her venues straight, noted an insider. “She left the New York production of ‘Master Class’ just three weeks ago. On Monday, she’s off to London for that production of ‘Master Class.’ And she has performed tonight’s show around the country.”

Kicking back: Wearing a black net gown embroidered with silk flowers, LuPone sipped white wine from a crystal goblet as she wended her way through the crowd, smiling as she posed for pictures with center board members. She declined interviews, choosing to “rest her voice,” explained a member of her entourage. Once seated, she dined on pasta and pastries from the buffet.

Arm-chair critic: Guests raved about LuPone’s second act, where she performed numbers from “Les Miserables,” “Oliver!” “Evita,” “Sunset Boulevard” and “The Baker’s Wife.”

“She sang some less familiar numbers in the first act that didn’t show off her range,” noted Carol Hoffmann, a center board member. “But the second act was superb.”

Morr praised LuPone’s career. “I connect her with just about every major musical,” Morr said. “She’s wonderful. Her strength is that she combines an incredible acting talent with a fabulous vocal range.”

The crowd: Along with center mainstays, about 35 members of the California Inland Empire Chapter of Young President’s Organization attended the party at the invitation of Center Chairman Mark Johnson.

For membership in the YPO, a person must be age 49 and under, have been president of a company before age 40, and employ a minimum of 50 people. Required annual revenue: $6 million.

Members are not only successful--they enjoy socializing, noted chapter Chairman John Kidwell of Claremont. “We belong to this organization because we want to do social things, educational things.”

Before the show, Johnson gave the YPO members--most from the San Bernardino- Riverside area--a tour of the center. “It was great giving some very savvy people an opportunity to see a facility most of them had never seen,” Johnson said. “My approach is to talk to people, let them see what we’re doing and give them the opportunity to become involved.”