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At the 75th Anniversary Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters pageant celebrity host Neil Patrick Harris, right, with Belinda Montgomery, who played his mother on the ABC comedy "Doogie Howser, M.D."

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Art comes to life with Laguna gala

Donna Bunce
Donna Bunce
People Watch
The Orange County Register
dbunce@ocregister.com

It was a magical evening Saturday at the 75th annual Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters, and host Neil Patrick Harris, popular star of the CBS comedy series "How I Met Your Mother" and self-admitted magician, agreed. "When it comes to stage magic, the pageant is in a class by itself," he said.

A sold-out house of 2,600 enjoyed a viewing of the Festival of Arts; the music of the Derek Bordeaux Group; food from Chef Molly's Gourmet Solutions; and a chance to bid on a 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK 280 give-away. Nearly 400 of the attendees enjoyed a gala fundraising dinner at Tivoli Terrace restaurant, overseen by its gracious general manager, Bobby Fader, before joining everyone in the Irvine Bowl for the famous Pageant of the Masters, this year themed "All the World's a Stage."

The Shakespeare theme was beautifully presented by the artwork of Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Joshua Reynolds, and particularly through Everett Shinn's painting "Footlight Flirtation."

Pageant director Diane Challis Davy said she loved incorporating the Italian commedia dell'arte troupe she created into the "living pictures," the name given the theatrical presentation at its founding in 1933. Challis Davy gave the audience a brief history of the pageant, from the parade of locals costumed as famous works of art marching down Coast Highway to the festival site to assume their classic poses on a makeshift stage to the glorious evolution it enjoys today, portraying works of art on a large stage with painted backdrops, live music and narration to sold-out audiences every night for two months.

Festival of Arts president Wayne Baglin commented, "What a long way it has come!"

The gala always draws celebrities, and among those spotted were former pageant host and current "Criminal Minds" star Joe Mantegna, "Without a Trace" star Eric Close, former "West Wing" actor Joshua Malina, "Days of Our Lives" bad guy Joseph Mascolo, "Leave It to Beaver" star Jerry Mathers, actor Chad Everett and actress Belinda Montgomery.

The gala benefit's net proceeds of more than $200,000 are designated for the Building Fund to renovate the property.

Pith helmets, Bermuda shorts and animal-print dresses abounded Saturday night as 325 guests gathered at the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo's 16th annual Zoofari fundraiser, this year themed "Carrousel Animalia," thanks to the zoo's new "Conservation Carrousel," which features 32 endangered species and is slated to open to the public Saturday.

Guests were greeted at the zoo by beautifully painted carousel horses from South Coast Plaza, whose logo is the carousel, and playful members of the Fleur-de-Lis Improvisational Troupe, who were dressed as fanciful animals. Face painting and tattooing were popular, as were the event's signature Carrousel Colada drink and photo ops at the new 36-foot carousel with Bindi, a rare binturong, or Asian bearcat.

FOSAZ board president Rip Ribble welcomed everyone to the Panache-catered dinner under the stars on the zoo's spacious lawn, where honorary co-chairs Sandra Segerstrom Daniels and Ed Arnold, who was also master of ceremonies, told me about their longtime relationships with the zoo. "Our family lived near here, so I grew up coming to the zoo," Segerstrom Daniels said. "And, now I'm proud to say our daughter brings our grandchild here." For Arnold, it began over 40 years ago. "Dixie and I used to bring our son Dean here, and now we bring his children, our grandchildren," he said. "They love the monkeys and the animals in the Crean Family Farm."

Receiving Special Recognition Awards were board member and past FOSAZ president Howard Hall and his wife, Karin, who were instrumental in the carousel becoming a reality, according to zoo executive director Cathi Decker, as well as 17-year zoo director Ron Glazier and his wife, Joyce. Ron, who is retiring soon, is credited with bringing the zoo to the next level by having it accredited by the prestigious American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Only 200 of the 2,600 zoos in America have that status.

Master auctioneer Chuck Dreyer, assisted by actress and animal-rights activist Tippi Hedren, oversaw the live auction, which featured a fabulous safari to Kenya. At its conclusion, guests bid on part-ownership of the new carousel, with each bidder receiving an adorable custom-made carousel horse, thanks to volunteers Rip Ribble and LuAnn Campbell.

The Debbie Newmeyer-inspired party favors – fiber-optic wands, animal-print fans and Mylar ribbon sticks – proved very popular, with many guests taking them to the dance floor for dancing to the SoundBytes' fever-pitch favorites. Together with a 149-item silent auction, $70,000 was netted to help with costs of the Conservation Carrousel.

Contact the writer: donna@coastmagazine.com

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