May 6, 2007

Ruby Jubilee marks 40 years for ACT

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Writer

San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater's 40th anniversary Ruby Jubilee was sold out before the invitations were in the mail. More than 400 dressed-up guests attended the spectacular April 22 gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco.

Artistic Director Carey Perloff and event chair Patti Reuff said the evening was a celebration of 40 magical seasons and a tribute to the artists and audience members.

ACT alum David Bransten produced a video showcasing the company's history of excellence and innovation with photographs and comments by theater luminaries and conservatory alumni such as honorary chair Annette Bening. Conservatory students gave a glimpse of the future with polished performances. A high-voltage "Testify" musical number, with Steven Anthony Jones as the preacher and conservatory students as the congregation, had guests tapping in time as the ensemble moved around the tables.

The event was also a fundraiser for the acclaimed conservatory and its educational programs. ACT alum and Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose urged guests to bid high and often during the evening's auction. When Executive Director Heather Kitchen announced the evening raised more than $1 million, Artistic Director Perloff smiled and said simply, "This is such a miracle."

A glamorous red-themed supper club with extravagant red rose centerpieces, designed by Stanlee Gatti, was the perfect venue for the top-notch vocal performance by actor Eric McCormack of "Will and Grace" fame. He had the audience laughing when he quipped, "Just on a sentimental note, Ruby Jubilee is my drag name."

Part of the fun was a star-studded guest list - with an actor seated at each table - and Olympia Dukakis, who greeted guests. Where else would you see Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the children of original ACT backers, Cyril Magnin, Melvin Swig and Mortimer Fleishhacker, applauding the young performers?

Toasting the occasion were Peninsulans DeeDee and Burt McMurtry, John and Sally Robinson, Tim Cole, Jim Haire and Laird Williamson.

It was a family occasion for Terri and Joe Tiffany, who grew up attending ACT student matinees with their Woodside High drama class, and their son Forrest, a member of the ACT Young Conservatory.

Committee member Marilee Gardner's Peninsula table included Larry and Susy Calof, Dee Empey, and Huguette Bartels with her son Michael and his fiance Cheryl Rogoff and Bartels' son Bill with Julie Roberts.



50 YEARS FOR DINAH'S GARDEN HOTEL

Dinah's Garden Hotel celebrated 50 years of hospitality with a Golden Jubilee party at Trader Vic's on April 26. Longtime friends, business associates and community leaders shared memories, sipped mai tais and applauded a talented Marilyn Monroe look-alike. A ceremonial ribbon cutting both saluted the past and toasted the next 50 years.

Hotel founder Raymond Handley, who attended with his wife Marsha and daughter Julie, celebrated the nostalgic evening by greeting friends like John Arrillaga, enjoying the champagne toast with renowned landscape architect Robert Royston (who designed the hotel's lush garden and lagoon complex) and smiling approvingly at Marilyn's signature rendition of the birthday song.

George McKee's lively historical commentary traced the growth of the hotel and included fun details about the Eisenhower era, such as the 24-cents-a-gallon price of gas in those days.

General Manager Mark Hyde said Handley and his partners were ahead of their time when they opened the luxurious destination hotel, and that they succeeded in achieving their goal of making guests forget about home.

In addition to official proclamations by Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss and Palo Alto Council Member John Barton, Kniss saluted the hotel for being a valuable business partner and supporter of nonprofit organizations, including Palo Alto middle schools and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford.

Guests included Barbara Ralston and Sandra Lonnquist, along with Sharon Magnuson and her son Eric, who have operated the hotel's Poolside Grill for 35 years. Palo Alto Lions Club members Wayne Saylor, Joan Peterson, and Nina and Jim Steiner were reminiscing while sampling authentic Dinah's Shack fried chicken and mashed potatoes.



SUGAR SHACK GRAND OPENING

The Sugar Shack, located on Menlo Park's Santa Cruz Avenue, has been open only a month and is already a "destination" store for the youth set. Store founder Suzi Tinsley, known as the candy lady, and her partner Beth Donnelly hosted a grand opening for friends of all ages on April 28.

Tinsley describes the pink-and-white-themed candy decor, designed by Melissa Badger, as "Manhattan meets Menlo." The store features every imaginable type of candy plus a soda fountain, and is available for parties.

Guests sampling cupcakes, lemonade and wine included Maggie Pringle, Jill Shanmugasundaram, Kim Forbes Tramel, Trish Moxen and her son Blair, along with Tinsley's father Bill Walsh and sister Tara Arnold.



MOUNTAIN VIEW DANCE FESTIVAL

"Mountain View has been called the United Nations of dining; we want to be the United Nations of dance," Mountain View Mayor Laura Macias said in her welcoming remarks at the second annual Mountain View Dance Festival on April 29. At least 200 people watched 30 Bay Area dance companies perform on the sun-drenched outdoor stage at Centennial Plaza.

For the second year, award-winning choreographer and newly named Fulbright Scholar Mark Foehringer, of Mark Foehringer Dance Project San Francisco, selected this venue for his festival in celebration of National Dance Week.

There was something for everyone: ballet, hip-hop, modern dance, the Charleston, swing and a large-scale samba finale.