Celebrating Porter

Had the dean of Harvard Law School not urged one of his second-year students to switch to a more practical career, such as songwriting, Broadway might never have had Cole Porter.

Although the segue from torts to Tin Pan Alley did not have an auspicious beginning, (his first show, “See America First,” in 1916 was a flop), Porter went on to become one of the most successful and prolific composers of the American musical theater.

His words and music were celebrated Monday in “Another Op’nin’, Another Show” at the annual Salon at the Taper, sponsored by members of Inner Circle, major supporters of Center Theatre Group. Salon, underwritten by Audrey and Charles Kenis, is a perk for belonging to Inner Circle, an annual membership program for donors of $2,500 or more.

This year more than $80,000 was generated from new membership, and an additional $35,000 was raised in single-ticket sales.

This was the best Salon ever. Of course, we’ve been saying that every year since Michael Feinstein launched the annual tribute to American songsmiths 10 years ago. But there was something magical about this one. And it was more than just the music. Maybe it was the mood of the crowd on both sides of the footlights. Producer Susan Clines, director Gordon Hunt and conductor Peter Matz deserve credit for combining talents in new ways. Kevin Earley, Klea Blackhurst, Bets Malone, Valarie Pettiford and Hugh Panaro put their own spin on vintage Porter. Patricia Morison, the original “Kate” of “Kiss Me, Kate,” Elizabeth Ward Land, Raymond Del Barrio, Susanne Blakeslee, David Hyde Pierce, L.A. Opera’s Suzanna Guzman, chanteuse Wesla Whitfield and Curly Jim Musgrave (a singing cowboy from Calgary) also sang Porter songs.

In the audience were former stars of Porter shows: Anna Maria Alberghetti, Nanette Fabray, Betty Garrett, choreographer Michael Kidd, Fayard Nicholas and Janis Paige.

“I’ve been involved with CTG and the Salon for more than a dozen years, but the great thing about Cole Porter is that everyone knows his lyrics,” said Chuck Fries, who co-chaired the event with his wife, Ava. “My mother used to play his tunes on the piano. I can still sing all the words to ‘Don’t Fence Me In.’”

Following a standing ovation, the crowd strolled across the plaza to the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for Cafe Cole, a late-night supper party with the cast, where Todd Schroeder presided over the piano bar. There, an assortment of wannabe saloon singers joined some cast members for a reprise. Among them was one high-profile socialite, who performed a pretty fair impersonation of Martha Graham doing “Steamroller Blues.”

Spotted among the night owls were Julie and Richard Kagan, Martin Massman, Betsy and Harold Applebaum, Anne and Kirk Douglas, Rosemary and Robert Stack, Nancy and Alan Livingston, Georgianna and Richard Thomas, Ron Arnault, Judith and Thomas Beckmen, Joan and Allan Burns, Sheri and Les Biller, Barbara and Peter Fodor, Judi and Gordon Davidson, Andrew Galef, Patricia Glaser, Brindell and Milton Gottlieb.

--Patt Diroll

Steppenwolf Benefit

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company of Chicago, the longest surviving acting ensemble in America, staged its first major West Coast fund-raiser at Hollywood & Highland, with the directorial debut of one of its star members, John Malkovich. “The Dancer Upstairs”--a Grand Guignol thriller based on Nicholas Shakespeare’s novel, which spews more blood than the goriest of Freddy Krueger flicks--had its first local screening at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. A posh supper followed the event held Jan. 24 at the Highlands, Wolfgang Puck’s newest venue in the complex.

First-nighters were greeted by a swarm of paparazzi along with all-you-can-down popcorn and sodas, courtesy of Target Stores, the evening’s sponsor. The event raised $250,000 for Steppenwolf.

In the crowd were Gary Sinise and Jeff Perry, who co-founded Steppenwolf with Terry Kinney in 1975, shortly after they graduated from Highland Park High School in suburban Chicago. A year later, they expanded the group to include Illinois State University friends, H.E. Baccus, Nancy Evans, Moira Harris and Malkovich, and launched their first series of one-act plays in a church school basement.

After moving to new digs in Chicago and enlarging the ensemble with the addition of Joan Allen, Francis Guinan, Glenne Headly, Tom Irwin, John Mahoney and Rondi Reed, the company won a Tony Award for Regional Theater Excellence in 1985. In 1990, Steppenwolf opened its production of “Grapes of Wrath” on Broadway and took home Tonys for best play and best director. In 1998, it became the first theater troupe to receive the National Medal of Arts.

Before the film rolled, Malkovich glowered at his old pal, Sinise, and publicly chastised him for not wearing a sarong to the opening. Later, at the party, Malkovich explained, “I keep telling Gary what to wear. I’d like him to dress and do what I want him to do. He’d make a great Hedy Lamarr. But, he never wants to do what I want. He always does what he wants to do. I’ve had that problem with other actors, but, it really bothers me with him.” Shaking his head in utter dismay, Sinise said, “John enjoys unsettling me.”

Others on the scene were the film’s star, Javier Bardem, co-producers Russ Smith and Lianne Halfon, and Steppenwolf execs Michael Gennaro, Martha Lavey and Judith Simons. Also there: David Schwimmer, Moira Harris, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Cole, Joey Slotnick, Mark Ruffalo, Andy Garcia, Diane Goldberg, George Joseph, Gigi Pritzker, John Ratner, Merle Reskin, Bruce Sagan, Bob Berenson, Debbie and Larry Brady, and Anne and Noel Gimbel.

-- P.D.

Showcase Preview

Members of the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts staged their annual Empty House Party on Jan. 25 for the patrons, designers and craftsmen, who will embark on the Cinderella treatment of this year’s home, a historic residence called “Overlook,” designed by architect Reginald Johnson that sits on 51/2 acres atop a tree-covered hill in Altadena.

Built in 1915 for two widows, the Mediterranean-style mansion was expanded in 1925 to more than 12,000 square feet by a subsequent owner. The present owners, who have moved out for the duration of the three-month face-lift, claim that the swimming hole on the estate is one of the first private pools built in the Southland. Now in serious disrepair, it’s about to be transformed into an exotic lily pond.

This year’s other innovations include a putting green and an oversize chessboard in the garden.

Vicki McCluggage is chairing the benefit, which opens to the public April 21. Proceeds from the monthlong event, one of the oldest and largest home tours in America, are earmarked for children’s music education programs, an instrumental competition for young adults and the L.A. Philharmonic.

-- P.D.

Coming Up:

* Crescendo 2002, the Long Beach Symphony’s annual gala dinner and auction, will be Saturday at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel. Tickets $150. Call (562) 436-3203.

* The Pasadena Playhouse presents “Playhouse Canteen” on Feb. 15, a swing-dance benefit featuring Jack Sheldon’s big band, Peter Marshall, the Modernaires and Paula Kelly Jr. at Pasadena Masonic Temple. Tickets $75. Call (626) 792-8672, Ext. 209.

* The YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley will pay tribute to 16 “Women of Excellence” at its annual awards luncheon, “Celebrating Women,” March 6 at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa. Tickets $125. Call (626) 793-5171.

* Leeza Gibbons and Neil Papiano will be among the awardees at “A Night at Sardi’s,” the annual fund-raiser for the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Los Angeles, which will feature music from Leiber & Stoller’s “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” on March 6, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Tickets $300-$500. Call (310) 996-1188.

* “A Beautiful Mind” screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and biographer Sylvia Nasar will receive the Friends of the USC Libraries’ 14th Annual Scripter Award, for the best adaptation of a book to film March 16 at the Doheny Memorial Library on the USC campus. Tickets $250. Call (213) 740-2328.

* The sixth annual Los Angeles Benefit Dinner sponsored by SOAR (Support Our Aging Religious) will honor Gretchen and George Gibbs on March 20 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Tickets $250. Call (310) 271-4386.

* Veteran show-biz publicist Warren Cowan will be honored as Hollywood’s mentor of the year by the Volunteers of America at a black-tie gala March 20 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Tickets $300. Call (562) 435-3013.

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Information for Social Circuits can be directed to Patt Diroll in Los Angeles or Ann Conway in Orange County. Diroll is at patt diroll@earthlink.net; Conway at ann.conway@latimes.com, or (714) 966-5952.