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 Mecca of culture
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| The Segerstrom family pose at the Orange County Performing Arts Center's renaming ceremony to Segerstrom Center for the Arts |
Fifty members of the Segerstrom family, resembling the "Sound of Music" cast, attended the re-naming ceremony of the Orange County Performing Arts Center to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, on Wednesday, January 12th on a balmy Southern California evening.
For 25 years the Orange County Performing Arts Center, now named Segerstrom Center for the Arts, has brought world class ballet, opera, music and theater to Costa Mesa, 400 performances a year. The four theaters and the South Coast Plaza, a mecca of luxury shopping, are built on 14 acres of lima bean farm land, donated and developed by the Segerstrom family. Early pioneers, the Segerstroms arrived with eleven children to farm at the turn of the 20th century.
The Wednesday night crowd of 1,500 gathered, on the Arts Plaza dominated by a monumental 65 foot high steel Richard Serra sculpture, to celebrate the Segerstroms’ vision. Chris Botti, Grammy winning trumpeter in a dark suit and tie, kicked off the evening with his band. Billy Childs on the piano, the gorgeous violinist Caroline Campbell and Rolling Stones' singer Lisa Fisher performed. |
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| Founding Chairman Henry Segerstrom, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, and John Daniels |
Henry Segerstrom, 87, married to Elizabeth Segerstrom, is the Founding Chairman of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and managing partner of C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, was honored last year with the Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence.
The following night, as the sun set, Henry Segerstrom was introduced from the stage by former Governor and friend Arnold Schwarzenegger. "I have been around the world and I've never seen anything like this" said the Governor, as he presented Segerstrom with a copy of the Governor's ring. Segerstrom thanked the Governor and paid tribute to his wife Elizabeth, for her role in the planning of the celebration. The grand finale was a $100,000 firework display. |
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| Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger presents the official Governors ring to Founding Chairman Henry Segerstrom |
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| Violinist Caroline Campbell performs |
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| Grammy award winning performer Chris Botti performs |
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| The Segerstrom family on stage for the unveiling of the Orange County Performing Arts Center's renaming ceremony to Segerstrom Center for the Arts |
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| The crowd at the Orange County Performing Arts Center's renaming ceremony to Segerstrom Center for the Arts |
At the after party in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, a Cesar Pelli designed hall that opened in 2006 with a performance by Placido Domingo conducted by Valery Gergiev, Cartier served priceless champagne from crystal bottles. Debra Gunn Downing, executive director of marketing at the South Coast Plaza, explained "This is champagne only served by Cartier. It can never be purchased."
Jacqueline Bisset talked to the world famous Bolshoi ballet dancers Natalia Ospiova, in blue Escada, and Ivan Vasiliev, both dancing in the female-power version of the "Kings of Dance," "Reflections," opening January 20th, co-produced with the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Among the guests at the party were: Elizabeth An, Gloria Brandes, Mickey and Ishani Dhillion, Bill and Christina Lyon, State Assemblyman Jose Solorio and the Hon. Jerrie Schipske. Segerstrom family at the party were: Sandy and John Daniels, Anton and Jennifer Segerstrom, Toren Segerstrom, Sally Segerstrom, David and Andrea Grant, Ruth Ann and Gene Moriarty, Jean Moriarty, Richard Moriarty, Ted and Rae Segerstrom, Susie Perry. |
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| Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, husband John Daniels, Sally Segerstrom, Tiffany Modica, and husband Joseph Modica |
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| Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger talks with Board Chairman Thomas McKernan |
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| Bolshoi Ballet dancers Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev |
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| Orange County Museum of Art Director Dennis Szakcas, Twyla Martin, Chuck Martin, and Sally Crockett |
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| Henry Segerstrom and Sandy Segerstrom Daniels |
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| Jacqueline Bisset and Center President Terry Dwyer |
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| Elizabeth Segerstrom and Founding Chairman Henry Segerstrom |
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| Board Chairman Thomas McKernan, Elizabeth and Henry Segerstrom, and Center President Terry Dwyer |
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| Parvina Glidewell, Tawny Kitaen, and Kristina Steiner |
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| Artist Bill Viola and Elizabeth Segerstrom |
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| Josiah Lilly, Roni Moore, and Steven Mastrotaolo |
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| Susan Kirkland, Kendra Puryear, Deborah Keillor, and Eric Keillor |
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| Teri Pitchess, Jennifer Blanchfield, Annette Gonzalez, and Teri Cullen |
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| Orange County Museum of Art Director Dennis Szakcas, Debra Gunn Downing, Jim Canter, and Center President Terry Dwyer |
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Steve Ross opened this past Tuesday night for three weeks at the Oak Room of the Algonquin. Ross epitomizes the cabaret performer of the 1930s and 40s, calling on its popular composers for much of his sophisticated material. He performs more than 30 songs in the show, with the bass accompaniment of Brian Cassier.
He opened the evening with a lively medley combining the title song with Jimmy McHugh and Ted Koehler's "Spreadin' Rhythm Around" (both introduced in 1935 by Ella Fitzgerald and "Fats" Waller, respectively); followed that up with a set about seduction (Flanders and Swann's droll "Have Some Madeira, M'Dear"), and marriage both sentimental (Kander and Ebb's "Married" and Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's "The Folks Who Live on the Hill") and sarcastic (Rodgers and Sondheim's "We're Gonna Be All Right" from Do I Hear a Waltz?).
There was plenty of Cole Porter and Noel Coward, but also Jacques Brel's dark "Fanette and I" and Ivor Novello's "And Her Mother Came Too.”
Also a set on the romance of travel, with Bob Merrill's rarely-heard "Mira" (from Carnival!) and a pair of Coward gems: "Sail Away" (from the 1960 flop of the same name) and, from 1955, the rudely hilarious "A Bar on the Piccola Marina," about the sexual awakening of the formerly staid Mrs. Wentworth Brewster.
There was a generous helping of Rodgers and Hart, including "Falling in Love with Love" (The Boys From Syracuse) and "Glad to Be Unhappy" (On Your Toes, 1936). The set was punctuated by some looks at romance from Dorothy Parker – also very appropriate in a show at Algonquin, where Ms. Parker was a regular at its fabled Round Table. |
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| Brian Cassier and Steve Ross |
The show concluded with an Edith Piaf instrumental medley, followed by an encore that briefly recapped "Rhythm and Romance" and then segued into an affecting rendition of “My Romance” (“Jumbo”).
Show runs January 18-February 12: Tuesday through Thursday at 8:30 pm and Friday and Saturday at 8:30 and 11 pm, with a $50 cover charge plus either a $30 food and beverage minimum or a $60 prix fixe dinner. Reservations: 212 419 9331 or bmcgurn@algonquinhotel.com |
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| Alex Aubry and Steve Ross |
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| Steve Ross and Tom Gates |
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| Jim Brochu and Steve Schalchlin |
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| Fred Winship and KT Sullivan |
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| Bill Boggs and Leslie Bennets |
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| Leslie Bennets, Bill Boggs, KT Sullivan, Steve Ross, Jim Brochu, and Steve Schalchlin |
| Emilia and Pepe Fanjul hosted their annual Dinner Dance benefit at Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach for the Everglades Preparatory Academy and Glades Academy Charter Schools. |
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Emilia and Jose Pepe Fanjul with Emilia Pfeifler |
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Judy and Alfred Taubman |
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Blair and Stuart Kirwan |
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Anne and Bill Mann |
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Howard Cox and Susan Gardner |
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Kristy Clarke, Don Burns, and Talbott Maxey |
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Mark and Gita Costa |
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Chris and Grace Meigher |
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Raysa and Alfie Fanjul |
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Carol and Earl Mack |
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Robin and Norberto Azqueta Jr. |
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Jamee and Peter Gregory with Hilary and Wilbur Ross |
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Arianna and Dixon Boardman |
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Kate Werlein and Bingo Gubelmann |
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Helena and Roman Martinez |
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Emilia Fanjul, Chris DelGatto, Tracy Sherman, and Veronica Webb |
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Kate Khosrovani |
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Cathie and Andreas Fanjul |
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Tucker and Charlotte Johnson |
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Lourdes and Jose Pepe Fanjul, Jr. |
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Frank Chopin and Kathy Ford |
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Alessandro Guerini-Maraldi with Lillian and Luis Fernandez |
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| Back in NY ... This past Tuesday night they celebrated Betty White's 89th birthday at Le Cirque. Among the guests toasting the birthday girl were Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick , Judah Friedlander, Nichelle Nichols, George Scott. |
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Betty White |
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Judah Friedlander and Jack McBrayer |
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George Segal |
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Hoda Kotb |
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Sabrina, Sirio, and Marco Maccioni |
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Lauren and Johnathan McLain |
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Stephanie Powers |
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Sherri Shephard |
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Ana Gasteyer |
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Ariana Huffington |
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Sirio and Mauro Maccioni |
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Wendy Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves |
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Marco Maccioni and Nichelle Nichols |
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| Also Tuesday night, the 2011 Cinema Eye Honors were held at the Museum of the Moving Image. Among those attending were Albert Maysles, Morgan Spkurlock and Harry Shearer. |
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Muffie Meyer and Albert Maysels |
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Ross Kaufman, Esther Robinson, and Morgan Spurlock |
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Jeff Malmberg and Laura Poitras |
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Harry Shearer |
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Jess Such and Beadie Finsy |
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Chris Krager, Amy Grapel, Gena Papabeix, and Louis Psihoyos |
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Esther Robinson |
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Jay Kelly and Steve Bognar |
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Jim Sauter, Lenny Crooks, and Rosalie Sauter |
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Eddie Schmidt |
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Jamie D'Cruz |
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John Flansburgh |
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Matt Porterfield |
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Patrick Creadon |
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Albert Maysles |
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Albert Maysles and Muffie Meyer |
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Margaret Brown |
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Louie Psihoyos and Esther Robinson |
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Turner and Bill Ross |
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Aaron Schock, Marya Schock, and Doug Jones |
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Bernardo Britto, James Benson, and Michael Forstein |
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John Flansburgh |
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Josh Norton, AJ Schnack, and Audrey Marrs |
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Mila Aung-Thwin and Lixin Fan |
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Sam Green, Emily Hubley, and Aaron Schock |
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Alison Willmore and Isreal Ehrisman |
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Kirsten Johnson, Laura Poitras, and Johnathan Openhiem |
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| Photographs by PatrickMcMullan.com (Betty White, Cinema Eye); Ann Watt (Steve Ross); Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging & Getty Images (Segerstrom); Lucien Capehart (Everglades) |
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