Nearly 15,000 Attended Movie Mondays 2013

Meet-Up at Movie Mondays

Setting a new Movie Monday box office record, nearly 15,000 gathered this summer to watch award-winning film musicals on the Center’s Arts Plaza. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita closed the 2012 – 2013 series (However, if you missed the screening or would like to enjoy Evita live on stage, the critically acclaimed Broadway revival opens the Center’s 2013 – 2014 Broadway Series on December 10.). These family-friendly evenings, co-presented with the Newport Beach Film Festival, welcomes creative al fresco picnic dinners, Meet-Ups, family celebrations and creative costumes. 

President Terry Dwyer and Doug McKay from Macy's

Volunteers participated in the highly anticipated contests and trivia trials as the sun set. Capping the evening, Doug McKay, Macy’s Operations Manager and District Grant Operations Manager, presented Center President Terry Dwyer with a check in the amount of $25,000 to underwrite the screenings of Mulan and Evita. 

Valerie Randall, Lori Shapiro, Denise Shue and Bill McKee

Suggestions are being taken for next summer’s line-up of film musicals. Send your nominations to www.SCFTA.org/mmpoll.

Elizabeth, MacKenzie, Michael and Tomai of Orange

On far right, Max.

All photos by Joesan Diche.

Center Phans Enjoy the Movie of the Night!

Davis Gaines and Jonathan Vietze. Photo by Chris Emerick

A phan-tastic crowd of nearly 4,000 people gathered this past Monday to enjoy the movie, The Phantom of the Opera, which was selected for this summer's series in last year's Audience Fan Favorite poll. 

Many spirited audience members were found donning Phantom masks and period costumes while some had picnic tables adorned with mini-chandeliers and plates filled with delicious French fare. 

Birthday party for Peggy Anderson of Aliso Viejo. Photo by Chris Emerick

The popular pre-film games included a VERY special guest - the one and only Davis Gaines stopped by and co-hosted along with Movie Monday’s MC Jonathan Vietze. Gaines is currently starring in the musical I Do! I Do! now playing at The Laguna Playhouse. He performed the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera more than 2,000 times, during his run on Broadway, in Los Angeles (where he remains LA’s longest-running Phantom) and in San Francisco (where he received the Bay Area Critics’ Award for Best Actor). 

Dan Dominguez and Garrett Schmidt of Laguna Niguel. Photo by Chris Emerick

Fun facts and trivia questions about all-things The Phantom of the Opera were shared as winners received tickets for the Broadway shows SISTER ACT (coming to the Center August 6 - 18), ANYTHING GOES (also coming to the Center September 24 - 29) or to see Gaines in I Do! I Do! Thanks to him, a few lucky winners even took home autographed The Phantom of the Opera posters! All winners walked away with freshly baked croissants, courtesy of Corner Bakery. 

James Che and Annie Vuong. Photo by Chris Emerick

Movie Mondays 2013 concludes on August 5 with yet another fabulous Andrew Lloyd Weber musical, EVITA. Our 2013 - 2014 Broadway Season proudly presents EVITA December 10-22.

Now is the chance to vote for next year’s Movie Mondays Audience Fan Favorite as the online poll is open. Please visit www.scfta.org/mmpoll. 

Photo by Chris Emerick

Andrew Lloyd Webber is 2009 Theatre Hall of Fame Inductee

The 2009 inductees for the Theatre Hall of Fame were announced today and include award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, fellow composer Stephen Schwartz, actors Jim Dale, Jon McMartin and Lynn Redgrave and the late playwright and actor Charles Ludlum. This year's class will be honored at the 39th annual Theatre Hall of Fame ceremony on January 25, 2010. Click here to read the full story on Playbill.com.

And more news for Andrew Lloyd Webber fans - a spectacular stage show of his biggest and most memorable hits from musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Whistle Down the Wind, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sunset Boulevard and Evita is coming to the Center February 15 - 21, 2010. The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber has been personally devised by the composer and will feature an onstage symphony and a cast of Broadway headliners.