Laguna Playhouse Big Band Gala Slated for November

From an edited press release:

Step back in time to a supper club show featuring the music of the 1930s through the early 1950s, starring crooner Johnny Holiday & the Dean Mora Orchestra, with The Satin Dollz Pin Up Dancers.

The Big Band, “A Night at the Cocoanut Grove,” will be held Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. Proceeds of the event will help to sustain the operations of The Laguna Playhouse, a 94-year-old icon – the oldest continuing operating theatre west of the Mississippi.

The evening will feature:

· A delectable white-glove service dinner with complimentary Newport Beach Vineyards & Winery wines

· Las Vegas-style show

· Dancing to the tunes of the Dean Mora Orchestra

· A live auction with exotic trips and a $10,000 Corum Admiral’s Cup Competition 48 Timepiece

· Silent Auction

· Raffle for a one week Hawaii condo vacation or Wine Cellar Starter featuring 100 Bottles of premium wines

Before the festivities get started, VIP-ticket holders, sponsors and underwriters of the evening will have access to a special speakeasy, featuring complimentary signature cocktails, cigar lounge, and hob knobbing with Johnny Holiday. Attire is dress-up fancy black tie (and tails) and ball gowns.

“The Laguna Playhouse Board of Trustees, and event co-chairs Justin Myers and myself invite Playhouse supporters and members of the business community to a fun-filled evening reminiscent of when you got dressed up and went out on the town,” said Michelle Bendetti.

“We will do a nice mix of tunes from several decades such ‘Shadow Waltz,’ ‘Learn to Croon,’ ‘Out of Nowhere.’ ‘Midnight with the Stars and You.’ ‘You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby.’ ‘Too Marvelous for Words,’ ‘Just in Time,’ ‘Love Is Just Around the Corner,’ ‘Please,’ as well as songs by the band from the big band era solely for dancing....we’ll even throw in the Charleston....and maybe I’ll get the girls to do ‘A Tisket A Tasket’ and songs along that line, we have a million to pick from,” adds Johnny Holiday.

A Big Band Gala committee, comprised of 30 community and business leaders, is assisting in making the Big Band theme come to life at the event. Committee members are: Co- chairs Justin Myers and Michelle Bendetti , Lisa Hale, Tamison Andersen, Barbara Brandt, Michael Chagoya, Christy Coffey, Denise Davis, Ashley Duran, Rachel Hale, Maryann Herrera, Carol Kirk, Paul Leu, Ilona Martin, Maggie Hempen Stempf, Sean LaFave, Paul Leu, Melinda Masson, Cheri Penne-Myers, Heidi Miller, Leslie Anne Mogul, Diane Mondini, Mona Lee Nesseth, Madeleine Peterson, Toni Redman, Nicky Schulz, Francine Scinto, Teryll Sindell, Valerie Sokola, Terri Turner, Holly Wisneski, Robin Woods, Caroline Wright and Judy Zeiter.

A Start Your Own Wine Cellar raffle features 100 premium bottles of wine. Live auction and silent auction items include: vacations, golf packages, original artwork, A Year of Dining at popular local restaurants, Laguna Beach Shopping Spree, Wine Country Trip, and jewelry.

For more information, contact Leslie Anne Mogul, lamogul@lagunaplayhouse.com, 949/497-2787 x217.

Tickets are $225 per person and can be purchased at www.lagunaplayhouse.com/events.