Kidding Around at the Zoo

It was hard to tell who was having more fun at the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo’s annual Zoofari gala--the zoo residents or the party animals. While more than 400 guests sipped mojitos from jungle-creature shaped containers, toured the grounds and dined under the stars, inhabitants of the 20-acre facility screeched and hollered.

“I love this party--it gives the zoo a chance to showcase its animals,” said zoo board president, Curtis Farrell, decked out in pith helmet, tux jacket, safari shorts and jungle-print cummerbund for the benefit that raised more than $100,000 for the park’s proposed children’s zoo. “My favorite is the golden lion tamarin --a little [marmoset] monkey with a long tail that weighs less than five pounds.”

Ground was broken in July for the children’s zoo, due to open in the spring of 2002, the centerpiece of which will be a red barn that houses an education center and a variety of farm animals. “When I learned about the zoo’s extensive education programs for children and adults, I had to get involved,” said Donel Wiles, co-chairwoman with Paige Kunkle of last week’s event.

Also attending were actor Michael Villani, event emcee; Ed Arnold, auctioneer; Tippi Hedren; Howard and Karin Hall; Loree Bins; Terri Oliver; and Roseanne Bye.

Kates and Double Takes

Three Kates, two Biancas and a couple of ex-gangsters were among the celebs at Venice magazine’s Padua-pasta party at the St. Regis Hotel after the opening of Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me Kate.”

Rachel York, who stars as Kate in the revival now playing at the Shubert Theatre, made a diva-esque entrance in an Edward Achour leopard print gown set off with Harry Winston diamonds and joined the two vintage Kates: Patricia Morison, who originated the role on Broadway 53 years ago, and Anne Jeffreys, who launched the national tour, which played (with Keith Andes and Marc Platt) in L.A.

Also there: Nancy Anderson, the current Bianca; Ann Miller, who played Bianca in the MGM film; and two former gangsters, James Whitmore, of the film, and Charles Durning, who was in a road production.

Morison reminisced about the role that became her signature. “I’d been making movies and wasn’t known as a singer, although I’d been studying voice,” she said. “The producers already had an opera star in mind, but I auditioned for Cole, and it was he who stood by me and remained my loyal friend for life. I was very fortunate to be the first Kate, but to survive, a play has to keep on going. After all, who remembers the first Mimi in ‘La Boheme’?”

Others spotted at the opening: John Raitt, Marilu Henner, Ann Rutherford, Barbara Rush, Mariette Hartley, Barbara Eden, Carol Lawrence, Fayard Nicholas, Jo Anne Worley, Esther Williams, Jane Withers, Suzanne Pleshette, Tom Poston, Susan Egan, Charlotte Rae, Jimmy Smits, Carl Reiner, Robert Morse, Pat and Michael York, Diahann Carroll, Doris Roberts, Charlotte Ross, Douglas Sills, Blake Edwards, Nancy Dussault, Ellen Greene, Kate Linder, Ruta Lee, Susanna Hoffs, Jay Roach, James Avery, Erik Palladino, Sally Kirkland, Lindsay Korman, Kelly Bishop, Miguel Nunez and Kristin Chenoweth.

Safe Haven for Animals

Sherry and Buddy Hackett hosted the premiere of Morgan Creek Productions’ new shoot-’em-up, “American Outlaws,” last week at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to benefit two animal sanctuaries, Singita and MASH (Meadowbrook Animal Sanctuary & Haven).

Longtime animal lovers, the Hacketts are completing Singita (“the miracle” in Swahili), which they established in Sylmar last March. “I’ve always been involved in philanthropy, so I decided I would help animals. Singita is the first new no-kill, cage-free animal sanctuary in Los Angeles County in over 30 years. It will be a place where hundreds of rescued cats and dogs are able to live out their lives,” Sherry Hackett said. Until it opens next year, she wanted to help MASH, which works to protect slaughter-bound horses and other animals.

A buffet featuring vegetarian fare preceded the screening. Spotted in the crowd were Kelly Lange, Jan Murray, Sarah and Shelley Berman, Bernie Kopell, the Lakers’ Derek Fisher and Samaki Walker, Ron Kenny, Annie Gaybis and John Byner, Marvin Braverman, Fred Travalena, Miss World Natasha Allas, Peter Lupus, Ken Norton, Terri Macellaro, an attorney and animal rights activist, and Gary Yourofsky, who lectures countrywide on animal abuse.

Coming Up:

* The Los Angeles County Fair Assn. will honor E. Burdette Boileau and Raymond J. Arbuthnot at “Le Pavillon des Fleurs,” its annual party to benefit the Fairplex Education Foundation on Thursday at Fairplex in Pomona. Tickets, $100. Call (909) 865-4233.

* David Overton, CEO of the Cheesecake Factory, and Richard E. Schaden, CEO of Quizno’s, will be honored by the Foodservice Industry for City of Hope on Saturday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Tickets, $275. Call (949) 622-1900.

* Michael W. Perry, CEO of IndyMac Bank, Baldwin Park, will be honored Sept. 12 with the Advocate for Children Award at Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services’ 51st anniversary dinner at the Doubletree Hotel, Pasadena. Tickets, $150. Call (626) 960-4861.

* The Orange County Museum of Art sponsors a preview party for the annual Pacific Craft Show on Sept. 14 at the museum in Newport Beach. Craft art sale. Tickets, $40. Call (949) 759-1122.

* City of Hope’s Apparel Industries Group will honor Bruce H. Corbin, senior vice president of Union Bank of California, on Sept. 15 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Tickets, $350. Call (213) 202-5735, Ext. 26507.