Seen at the Scene: Footlighters fete area students

Honoring its 2016 scholarship recipients, the Musical Theatre West Footlighters’ Music in the Moing luncheon was held on March 19 at Lakewood’s Centre at Sycamore Plaza.

Introduced by MTW’s executive director/producer Paul Garman, the gifted scholarship recipients performed songs to a cheering audience of 158 Footlighters and guests.

Affirming that “recipients and parents are intensely dedicated to the arts,” he cited an example of two recipients who travel more than four hours to and from school every day by car, train and bus.

In her welcoming address president Peggy Miller thanked all for making it possible to award students with scholarships, a tradition begun in 2005.

This year’s honorees were presented by chairs Carol Senske and Leslie Tiaro. Footlighters scholarships went to Taylor Aragon, Huntington Beach High School, Shaila Essley, L.A. County High School for the Arts, and Alisa Melendez, Orange County School of the Arts.

Dottie Reiner bestowed the Ken and Dottie Reiner Award on Audrey Bivens, Orange Lutheran High School; Jeifer Friedman presented the Jan Ritschel Award to Katherine Chatman; Doa Estrin gave the DAAG Scholarship to Emily LaSalle; Millikan.

Marlene Temple presented the Don Temple Family Foundation Awards to Autumn Kirkpatrick, HBHS. Evoking smiles from all, at 6-foot, 2-inches in heels, a lovely Ms. Kirkpatrick quickly took a seat to receive her award from the 5-foot-tall Marlene.

Paul presented the Garman Family Award to Chanel Morehead, OCSA, and the Dr. Frances Grover Award to Madi Ligtermoet, OCSA.

Clever centerpieces celebrated the scholarship recipients while recognizing the upcoming Musical Theatre West production of Sister Act (April 8-24). Each of the six little “singing nuns” carried a scroll with the names of the scholarship recipients.

Footlighters members and the general meeting team gathered great raffle prizes, including wine/spa baskets; Nordstrom, Brighton and Chico gift cards; handmade jewelry; “Lady and the Tramp” child’s pillow; succulent garden; Vera Bradley Tote; and a jukebox radio/CD Player. Three of the scholarship honorees’ families were among the wiers.

Seen at the Scene: Founder Judy McNulty Black, Karen and Dwayne Larson, Robbin and Kevin Gregory, Robert and Susan Green, Barbara and Ted Klein, Cheryl Perri, Jayni Rhoads, Kathy Biggs and Susan Nathon.

Advertisement

C-300 race preview

Committee of 300 (better known as C-300, the Redcoats) brought its aual Sneak a Peek and membership push to the fore on Feb. 24 in preparation for the upcoming Grand Prix extravaganza on Apr. 17.

Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian spoke to the more than 125 attending as did Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach president Rick DuRee. Second-term C-300 president Derek Brown greeted the guests, along with Alumni member Bart DeLeo as master of ceremonies for the evening’s festivities at Forbidden City.

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Queen Natasha Alhandy-Shaw and first ruer-up Princess Alliyah Becerra signed autographs and posed for photos. The TGPLB show car and the Grand Prix display added to the racing atmosphere.

Colorful tabletop presentations of the sub-committees that make up the C-300 showcased the many opportunities available within the C-300 in addition to their race weekend duties of staffing the grandstands, producing the C-300 Paddock Club and assisting in the press area.

The C-300 is active year-round with community service outreach, member events and promoting the Grand Prix. Table favors were collectors’ favorite, vintage C-300 Paddock Club pins.

There were also opportunity drawings throughout the evening for race swag and the C-300 “Friday Only” package that includes general admission to the circuit and entrance to the Paddock Club. A great selection of tasty appetizers were hosted by Forbidden City.

Seen at the Scene: Phil Tondreault, Phyllis Covey, Susan Lincoln, Judie Johnsen, Diae McNinch, Richard Feinberg, Pat Mohler, Deis Pitts, Jeff Logan, Lisa Viets, Julie Nemechek, Ambrose Martin, Pepe, Dian Morris, Rich Carry, A and Michael Russell, Nury Curtis, Tim Karpinsky, Doug Akins, Ruth Baes and Kat Johl.

Villa Riviera Party

On Feb. 13, Ed Barbone and his 11 guests enjoyed a Roaring ‘20s soiree hosted by Greg Perrault and Cookie Braude at their home in the Villa Riviera, a historical landmark in Long Beach since the 1930s. The guests, all dressed in ‘20s attire, were greeted by Steel Magnolia volunteers with flutes of champagne which they enjoyed as they had an exclusive tour of the Chateauesque architecture of the Villa.

Pianist Randy Woltz played music of the era throughout the evening. When Randy played, “In the Mood,” Don Knabe spontaneously took Julie’s hand to dance the Balboa to the delight of the group.

There were many dancers in the crowd and some hot jitterbugging as the group responded to Randy’s talent with the ivories. Guests enjoyed mini potato pancakes with smoked salmon and caviar, an assortment of imported Italian meats and cheeses and other appetizers catered by Gelson’s.

Fondness for sweets were indulged with an assortment of pastries from Rossmoor Pastries.

The view of the Queen Mary and the beautiful lights of Long Beach helped make this “an evening to remember.”

Seen at the Scene: Ed Barbone, JoA Harvey, Supervisor Don and Julie Knabe and Mary Ellen Kunoth. Volunteers were: Boie Scott, Janis Krantz, Theresa Brunella, and Darlene Dameron.

News of social events with charitable purposes may be sent to Shirley Wild at [email protected] or by fax to (562) 594-9668. Please include a contact phone number. Send high-resolution jpeg photos, by attachment, to [email protected] and include group name and identification of individuals from left. Call Shirley at (562) 594-9468 for more information. Please check the website for coverage of additional events: www.presstelegram.com/social.