Harold Matzner Gives Crowd A Good Reason To Applaud At McCallum Birthday Luncheon

The 28th Annual On-Stage Birthday Luncheon benefiting the Muses & Patroness Circle of the McCallum Theatre demonstrated why theater is such an amazing and exciting art form, and why ladies should join this prestigious group.

Original founding member Marjorie Victor was seen in the lobby for wine and champagne, as were long-time supporters Donna Jean Darby, Sally St. John, Cynthia Cottrell, Karen Miles, Rhonda Smith, Dorothy Goldstein, Cyma Cohen, Kay Hanson, Donna MacMillan, Patty Newman, and Barbara Platt. Event chairs Mary Latta and Marge Barry greeted the sold out crowd of 200, many sporting the fancy chapeaux that adds so much fun and color.

Once inside the magnificent McCallum Theatre, President Linda Weakley called the board meeting to order and nominating chair Fran Muir presented the new slate of officers and board members, which was quickly unanimously ratified. Membership chair Nancy Cunningham and fundraising chair Sandy Woodson joined McCallum board chairman Harold Matzner and McCallum president/CEO Mitch Gershenfeld after a check for $387,805 was presented.

Matzner thanked the Muses for their activities in support of McCallum, and said he was very proud to be a member of the Muses, the only male member. He hoped that he would remain the only male member, which received a huge laugh and applause from the all-female crowd.

Open Call finalists Kaitlyn Farley and Dion Khan joined 2015 Open Call Grand Prize Winner Brianna Finnell in an all Andrew Lloyd Weber song medley, accompanied by Open Call Music Director Paul Cracchiolo. The luscious Music of the Night duet by Finnell and Khan was a fitting segue from program to the opening of the curtain revealing the Parisian Phantom of the Opera backdrop, and waiters wearing the Phantom half-mask.The delectable, light lunch matched the entertainment – excellent in all aspects.

McCallum Theatre
73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-340-2787
www.mccallumtheatre.com

Photography by Loretta Vlach

As posted in Palm Springs Life,  April 2016