Our 2018 Gala was a night to remember!
This year, our Gala Committee (co-chaired by Sophie Cripe and Georgia Well, and our honorary chair Bette Aitken) raised the water marker on what a Chance Gala could be — and those in attendance had a blast!
Some highlights from the night include:
- Our amazing attendees showed up dressed as a variety of nautical characters, ranging from “Gilligan’s Island” to “The Love Boat” and from pirates to Steve Zissou.
- This cast of eclectic characters played games of Chance onboard our special casino for one of three prizes (donated by Guy W. Marr).
- Chance artists performed musical numbers from various shows from the first 20 seasons of the Chance.
- Co-hosts Laura M. Hathaway and Casey Long got into a “snap fight” (a la West Side Story) about whether plays or musicals are better!
- Founding Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen announced our 2019 Season.
- Resident Artist Jocelyn Buckner shared information on the Chance’s role in the development of new plays and musicals.
- Education Director Karen O’Hanlon shared a story from one of our Teens Speak Up students, who said that “This program saved my life.”
- One of our students from the inaugural Spectrum Speak Up program, Joseph Barboza spoke about his experience at the Chance, which resulted in a standing ovation.
- And, finally… Todd Spitzer, from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, made a surprise appearance to present the Chance with a special proclamation in honor of our 20th Anniversary Season!
- Then we wrapped up the whole event with Bingo and Karaoke until midnight!
Thanks to the support of so many gracious theater lovers, we were able to reach our fundraising goal!
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, to those who donated toward the event, and to those who donated an auction item or a bottle of wine! Your support made the evening a great success and will allow us to continue to serve our amazing community. See all their names after the gallery below.
If you couldn’t make it on August 25th, save-the-date and stay tuned for information about next year’s gala on August 24, 2019! Check out our gallery below, and join in the fun next year!
SPECIAL THANKS
Honorary Chair: Bette Aitken
Gala Chairs: Sophie Cripe & Georgia Well
Gala Committee: Larry Cripe, Robin Preiss Glasser, Judy Joss, Lisa Keating, Guy W. Marr, Rachelle Menaker, Heather M. Young
Entertainment Committee: Alex Bueno* and Laura M. Hathaway*
MAJOR SPONSORS
- Captain’s Prime Table Sponsors:
- Bette & Wylie Aitken
- Steve Brown
- Sophie & Larry Cripe
- Robin Preiss Glasser & Robert Berman
- Christina Mar
- Guy W. Marr
- Georgia & Scott Well
- Cruise Director’s Premium Table Sponsors:
- Andy & Judith Lamb and Terry & Michelle Schomburg
- Major Underwriters:
- Bar – Linda & Tod White
- Table Wine – Bette & Wylie Aitken
- Catering – Christina Rice & Sally Ann Catering
- Invitations and Decor – Robin Preiss Glasser
- Band – Yvonne & Damien Jordan
- Band – Molly Mahoney & John Dominguez
Additional Event Sponsors
- $800+
Katheryn Baker
Rob & Audrey Greenfield
Doris Longmead
Guy W. Marr - $600 – $799
Ashleigh Aitken & Michael Penn
Anonymous “M”
Elizabeth Jones & Dennis O’Connell
David & Judy Joss
Rachelle Menaker & Eddie Schuller
Joe & Esther Rank
Steve & Chris Sumpter - $350 – $599
Sophie & Larry Cripe
Jean Abdalla
Diane & Chimo Arnold
Martin Benson
Susan Bowman & Freddie Greenfield
Gail & Ernie Doe
Bruce Goodrich
Camille Goulet
Carol Hellebrand & Patti Howard
Fran Riggs
Karen Smits
Laurie Smits Staude
Scott & Georgia Well
Linda & Tod White - $100 – $349
Frank Barry
Eloise Coopersmith
Susie Dittmar
Lisa Keating
David & Danice Limberg
Kristen Purcell
Monika & Mike Sargent
Heather Young
Joan Herrick
Peggy Immerman
And all of our 20th Anniversary Donors
SPECIAL FUND DONORS ($250+)
These are donations that were designated specifically for one of our funds — Education & Outreach Fund, New Works Fund, Linda & Tod White Artist Fund, or our Annual Fund
- EDUCATION FUND
- Anonymous
- Guy W. Marr
- Edward Miguel
- Liza & Mark Maughan
- Tom & Amy Prenovost
- Maria Hall & Jeff Brown
- Bud & Nancy Foster
- David Merrell
- Linda & Tod White
- LINDA & TOD WHITE ARTIST FUND
- Anonymous
- Ashleigh Aitken & Michael Penn
- Linda & Tod White
- Maddy & Tommy Long
- NEW WORKS FUND
- Martin Benson
- Bruce Goodrich
- Janet Green
- ANNUAL FUND
- Bette & Wylie Aitken
- Susan Bowman & Freddie Greenfield
- Elizabeth Jones
- Christina Sumpter
Performers: Emily Abeles, Jocelyn A. Brown*, Michael J. Isennock, Glenn Koppel, Jeff Lowe, Lexie Lynn Harding, Charles McCoy, Erika C. Miller*, Monika Peña*, and Matt Takahashi
The Under-The-Sea Band: Piano – Bill Strongin* Drums – Jeff Segal
Volunteers: Chance Resident Artists and Fellows, Emily Abeles, Jordan Barrie, Melisa Cole, Disney VoluntEARS, Elizabeth Gonzalez, William Hanson, Lexie Lynn Harding, Michael J. Isennock, Jordan Jones, Liz Jones, Nicole Koenig, Madeleine Long, Jeff Lowe, James Markoski, Lindsay Marsh, Charles McCoy, Lizzy Mosher, Desiree Nguyen, Dennis O’Connell, Shannon Page, Jazmin Pollinger, Nika Ramos, Jeff Segal, Doug Shaner, Rosalyn Strongin, Matt Takahashi, Danthi Tran, Hayley Werner, Amanda Zarr, Camryn Zelinger
* Chance Theater Resident Artist
Silent Auction Donors
Thank you to the following individuals and companies for their support!
Steve Brown
Sophie & Larry Cripe*
Guy W. Marr*
Anaheim City Council Member Dr. Jose Moreno
Bette & Wylie Aitken
Anaheim City Council Member Denise Barnes
Robin Preiss Glasser
Anaheim City Council Member Stephen Faessel
Carole Markee – PRP Wine International
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait
3D Theatricals
Bleu Cotton Photography
Capital Genealogy
Jean Louis Domerego
David & Judy Joss*
Los Angeles Chargers
Magic Castle
Robyn Manion – Heavenly Voices Productions
James Markoski
Orange County Symphony
Sojourn Cellars
Total Wine
Anaheim City Council Member James Vanderbilt
Jesse & Amy Bagley*
Chemers Gallery
Susie Dittmar
Geffen Playhouse
The Old Globe
Hirschl School Of Dance Arts
Andy & Judith Lamb*
Lux Salon
MenAlive
Vasco Dentistry
Actor’s Gang
Alexander’s Grand Salon & Spa
Animal Inns of America
Anonymous*
Aquarium of the Pacific
Armstrong Garden Centers, Inc
Autry Museum of the American West
Boomers – Fountain Valley
Boston Court
Bowers Museum
Susan Bowman & Freddie Greenfield*
Marnie Ceporius*
Cinema City
The Clubhouse at Anaheim Hills Golf Course
Cross Roads Escape Games
Davey’s Locker Whale Watching
Discovery Science Center
East/West Players
Little Fish
Fountain Valley Skating Center
Chelle Friedman
Get Air
Bruce Goodrich*
Jeff Hellebrand*
Dorota Huiziiyga*
Huntington Library
In-N-Out Burger
Japanese American History Museum
Elizabeth Jones*
Lisa Keating*
La Mirada Theatre
Laguna Playhouse
Laugh Factory
Linbrook Bowling Alley
Doris Longmead*
Lyon Air Museum
Molly Mahoney & John Dominguez*
Christina Mar
Rachelle Menaker & Eddie Schuller*
Morongo Casino Resort and Spa
Muldoon’s Irish Pub
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
San Diego Zoo
Santa Ana Zoo
Santa Anita Park
Monika & Mike Sargent*
Scentsy
Terry & Michelle Schomburg*
Sky Zone
South Coast Repertory
Laurie Smits Staude*
Summit House
Tommy’s Burgers
Catherine Warner*
Georgia & Scott Well*
Laura & Will Young
Yves’ Bistro
* Also contributed to our Captain’s Wine Pull
We apologize for any errors or omissions at the time of the blog posting.
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