The Morning Report
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Wednesday, September 28, 2005 | The Old Globe Gala celebrated 70 years with pizzazz. Legendary screen, stage and dance star Chita Rivera was the draw. Chita performed her life’s story in the evening’s world premiere of “Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life.” The performance is Broadway bound, too! Add to that The Wayne Foster Orchestra, dinner and a sextet of superb co-chairs, all male, and you have a stellar evening. The handsome men in charge were: Tony Thornley, Harvey White, Don Cohn, Harry Cooper, Todd Figi and Conrad Prebys.
The color theme was hot pink and bright Grinch green. Something well-matched to guest Valerie Cooper’s vibrant vintage Pucci long gown.
Colorful too was the crowd of patrons, including busy Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins, Jennifer LeSar, Rita and Richard Atkinson, Barbara Bloom, and Chanel chic Lyndy Roda of Neiman Marcus. Lyndy looked Parisian perfect in a Chanel cashmere pantsuit with fox-trimmed capelet.
More there raising big funds and applause for the Old Globe were Anna and Frank Sciarrino, Noddy and Ira Epstein, and Joan Jacobs elegant in a black pantsuit with her husband, Qualcomm man, Irwin Jacobs. Enjoying the evening also were Margaret and Michael Grossman, Shawn Ingram of the San Diego LGBT Community Center, Dean Thorp of the Wells Fargo Foundation and Matthew Doherty, Akiko Morimoto and Hugh Hamilton, Pam Clifford and Janne Webb, Robert Gleason and designer Marc Matys, Alan Muraoka, Diana and singer Elie Lombrozo, Burl Stiff, Gaby and Rich Sulpizio and Pat and Bob Whalen. Pat wore creamy silk and was wrapped warmly in a turquoise pashmina. Also there were Joan Kroc’s daughter Linda Ardell, architect Rod Youngson, and Jake Yonchak in creamy, dreamy, satiny Ralph Lauren.
More standouts at The Old Globe were Martha Gafford in a black Giorgio Armani pant suit with midnight lace detailing on the back, with her husband George, Sheryl White, Karen Cohn, Gillian Thornley, Dianne York-Goldman in autumnal hues wearing British designer Lorcan Mullany accented by a Tamara Alter colliere, with her husband Dr. Mitch Goldman of La Jolla Spa MD, Audrey Geisel in teal with Alex Butterfield, Diane and Roy Bell and Sheri and Dr. Stuart Jamieson. The Jamieson’s are fresh back from an animal-filled African safari. They went to six different countries and traveled 8,000 miles.
And land marker soiree it was, as it was announced that Conrad Prebys had just donated $10 million to the Old Globe. This former Indiana pizza eatery operator, turned real estate mogul, transformed a lot of “dough” into a phenomenal financial recipe for the Old Globe … now that’s pizza to pizzazz!
Meanwhile San Diegans have been extremely busy with more art important events. Among them:
Downtown San Diego venues were host to The San Diego Film Festival. Among the attendees at debuting films, actor’s and writer’s workshops and galas were Joaquin Phoenix, Joan Collins and former La Jolla resident and Oscar winning actor, Cliff Robertson.
At the Blackhorse Grille in Del Mar, the North Coast Repertory held a celebratory and “tastefully” fun evening of fine cuisine, while raising funds.
Look for the San Diego Asian Film Festival to start Sept. 29. Actor Jason Scott Lee is skedded, that’s film lingo, to attend.
And the La Jolla Playhouse just debuted another already raved about comedic play called “The Scottish Play.”
Margo Schwab, an alumna of the University of San Diego’s graduate business school, reports on social/charity events, celebrities, restaurants and from time to time breaking scoops.