Dining, Dancing and More

Sure, they got to dress up. Dine. Dance to a hot rhythm band.

But the 500 young professionals attending the Masquerade Ball for the Arts at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach got something more: the chance to view “In the City: Urban Views 1900-1940.”

The exhibit featuring paintings from New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art collection represents “the most impressive array of American artists ever to be shown in the Orange County,” museum spokesman Brian Langston said.

So, when guests wanted a break from the dance floor Saturday night, they had only to steal into the quiet corridors of the Beall Gallery to behold seminal works ranging from Maurice Prendergast’s “Central Park” to Edward Hopper’s “Summer Interior” in an exhibit that continues through Jan. 23.

“This whole night is about getting young professionals interested in Orange County’s arts organizations,” said Nick Dauderman, 29, chairman of the event. The benefit was co-sponsored by the museum, South Coast Repertory, Opera Pacific and the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Not to be outdone by the museum exhibit, the other three arts organizations had representatives touting their artistic offerings. Tom Turnley of Laguna Beach, for example, was dressed as Scrooge from “A Christmas Carol,” which SCR produces annually.

“We’re having our 20th anniversary production beginning Dec. 1,” Turnley told guests, as they sipped cocktails. “If you come to our special opening night production, there will be a light buffet dinner.”

When Dauderman signed up to help stage last year’s Masquerade Ball, he didn’t count on meeting the girl of his dreams.

He joined the committee, he said, because he had a love for the arts inspired by his parents, Nautilus Plus Founder Jerry Dauderman and his wife, Bobbi.

But when he began to work beside fellow committee member Jennifer Higby--founder of the West Side Story guild of the Orange County Performing Arts Center--he fell in love, he said.

“He’s a wonderful man,” said Higby, 28. “We’re getting married in May.”

A Lasting Impression

Supporters of the Art Institute of Southern California were invited to dress as their favorite Impressionist painting for Saturday’s benefit at the home of John and Donna Crean in Santa Ana Heights.

Forget waterlilies.

Since summer had ended and winter was just around the corner, Juin and Bob Foresman of San Juan Capistrano decided to come as haystacks, such as those featured in a painting by Monet.

To achieve the “haystack effect,” Juin Foresman took wide-brimmed black hats and piled them with dried moss she’d spray-painted a reddish-brown.

Just to make sure fellow party-goers knew what they were up to, the Foresmans wore photographs of the painting on strings around their necks.

“We figured people would have to look at us a long time before they figured it out,” joked Juin Foresman, a member of the Laguna Beach-based institute’s Designing Women support group.

Quipped Bob Foresman, who resides with his wife on a 3.5-acre property: “I’m usually under a haystack at home anyway.”

Besides enjoying a dinner of beef Wellington and napoleons with strawberry sauce, guests had the opportunity to paint impressionistic works of their own at easels set up by artist Doretta Ensign of Corona del Mar.

“I love the works of all the Impressionist painters,” said Ensign, who was dressed as a cancan dancer, a la those captured on canvas by Toulouse-Lautrec. “Impressionism is a very comfortable, nonthreatening type of art.”

Proceeds of about $25,000 from the benefit will go toward the production of “Color It Orange,” a juried student art exhibit sponsored each spring by Designing Women.

“Designing Women is celebrating it 25th year,” president Jane Willet said. “We began as the main financial arm of the institute. But now we focus on Color It Orange.”

Students from 120 public and private schools in Orange County will participate in the project, Willet said. “We’ll have 4,000 works of art on display.”

Artist Marco Sassone was honorary event chairman. Luciana Marabella and Darlene Ware were gala co-chairwomen. Also on the committee: Ensign, Sylvia Levy, Suzanne Valentino, Nancy Lawrence, Lyn Belasco, Pam Smart, Maggie Cook and Betty Bragg.

For information on the juried exhibit: (949) 376-6000.

Community Standouts

Women who have made outstanding contributions to their communities were honored last week by the Orange County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Receiving Clara Barton Spectrum awards during the benefit luncheon at the Irvine Marriott were Cindy Beyl of Anaheim, who won in the humanitarian service category; Susan Trumbore of Irvine, environmental preservation; Linda Boehm of San Clemente, education; Mary Ann Lam Bui, personal achievement; Mai Cong of Santa Ana, health care; Barbara Glabman of Newport Beach, the arts; and Jennifer Heckenlively, 18, for youth service.

Pat Buttress chaired the benefit, at which Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby was keynote speaker. Net proceeds of more than $50,000 will be used by the local chapter for emergency relief programs and services.

Mark Your Calendar

Four-time Grammy Award-winner Tony Bennett will perform at Front & Center, the annual benefit for scholarships staged by Cal State Fullerton at the Pond in Anaheim.

The Feb. 5 event also will feature two-time Emmy winner Debbie Allen--choreographer of this year’s Oscars--and CSF alum Dana Meller, who is performing on Broadway in “Les Miserables.”

VIP tables for 10 people on the floor of the Pond are being sold for $10,000 each. Tickets for general public seating on the plaza level also will be available. For information: (714) 278-3480.

Ann Conway’s column is published on Thursdays. She can be reached at (714) 966-5952, or by e-mail at ann.conway@latimes.com.