Thanks for joining us on Saturday Evening, May 15, 2010!

Showcasing Newport Harbor High’s artists from the past and present was the goal of the first annual Lights Up performance and fund raiser that followed at the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach on May 15. The show, directed by NHHS alumnus Deb Marley ’91, featured emerging talent from Newport Harbor High School in drama, music, voice, and dance. From the talented musicians in the 28 piece NHHS Midshipmen Jazz Band who played Sing Sing Sing to tap dancers Cat Boettner and Kami Kurisu, to ballerina Kelsey Long, who choreographed her own dance to ’03 alumnus David Morihiro’s piano composition, Thinking of You, to the NHHS JV and Varsity Dance Team’s pieces, the evening was a thrilling confirmation that the arts are alive and well at Newport Harbor High School. Twenty drama students performed highlights of Steven Sondheim’s Into the Woods musical further demonstrating the high caliber of talent within the halls of Harbor High. Opera singer Steve Pence ’97 sang the Toreador’s Song from Carmen, while alumni Gregg Schwenk ’86 (Co-Founder and CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival) and Anthony Zerbe ‘54 (actor in numerous movies including Cool Hand Luke, Star Trek IX: Insurrection, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolution) spoke about their vivid NHHS drama memories. A video created by Felicity Claire ’01 gave a tour of the Winter Garden Theater in NYC where she performs in Mamma Mia.

After the performance at the Robert B. Wentz Theater, the party continued at the Environmental Nature Center with a catered dinner by Jay’s Catering, silent and live auction, and a reunion performance of the NHHS 70’s era Kings Road Band. They all traveled from near and far to play at the Lights Up post party – Jeff Bitetti ’78, Terry Cline ’74, John Ferraro ’73 (drummer for Barry Manilow and Boz Scaggs), Ross Harris ’73 and Jim Helfrich ’76. Friend Terry Lawless performed on the keyboard, saxophone and flute, while he is on break with world touring band U2.  Later in the evening NHHS alumnus Steve Pence ‘97, opera singer with LA Master Chorale, joined Kings Road Band with vocals for a truly awesome and memorable rendition of Sweet Caroline.

Highlights of the Lights Up auction included  pieces of the original 1930 NHHS Bell Tower, a Feast for 12 at Dan Marcheano’s new Arches Restaurant on Westcliff Drive in Newport, and a night’s stay in a 3 bedroom villa at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast. Additionally, three oil paintings of the NHHS bell tower painted by Newport Harbor students Hayley Williams, Emily Wilson and Delaney Linden were in the auction, much to the delight of Lights Up guests. Other items included 2 hours in a recording studio & CD, jewelry designed by Harbor grad Caitlin Whelan, and a commissioned painting of your home by Harbor grad Hailey Sandberg.

Lights Up co-chairmen Kary Fuller and Lisa Gels, both board members of the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation, have worked with their committee and NHHS faculty for 9 months to create this new fundraising event. $40,000 was raised at Lights Up in support of programs for 2400 students at Newport Harbor High School.