“The Playhouse Party,” the new annual benefit for the Pasadena Playhouse, staged on April 1, raised more than $445,000! Conceived by Playhouse producing artistic director Danny Feldman and chaired by Erin Baker, Leigh Olivar and Ann Sunshine, the al fresco soiree honored the L.A. Arts Recovery Fund and California State Assemblymember Chris Holden of Pasadena.

El Molino Avenue was cordoned off for the festivities in the Playhouse courtyard and flowed out into the street where more than 250 Playhouse supporters turned out for the doings, featuring surprise pop-up performances from L.A. Recovery Fund recipients, Taikoproject, Mariachi Reyna De Los Angeles, The Artifact Trio, Lyric and The Show.

The evening was presented in three acts, starting with cocktails, a silent auction, followed by dinner, an awards ceremony, and topped off by a dance party that kept some night owls up until the wee hours.

Holden was lauded for having secured $1 million in 2016 to fund necessary renovations for the landmark theater and, in 2021 he presented the Playhouse with a check for $1.6 million to fund renovations to its HVAC system. The L.A. Arts Recovery Fund was also recognized by Playhouse Board Chair Dennis Cornell.

Taking turns at the mic were Feldman, Erin Baker, Sam Palmer, Erica Gonzalez, Jenni Barber and Jason Michael Snow, PUSD student Ida Hartel, Jane Kaczmarek, Cristina Hernandez, and Merle Dandridge, who offered a sneak peek from the upcoming Playhouse production of Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” with a dazzling rendition of “Send in the Clowns.” Spotted in the crowd were Playhouse stalwarts Olivia Moore, Joe Olender, Patty Barajas Tavera, Peggy Ebright, Sheila Grether Marion, Julie A. Gutierrez, Melanie Holden and Anita Lawler.

Singing in the rain

The soggy weather didn’t put a damper on the annual spring gala to benefit the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. It was held once again in the garden court of the Huntington Library where a bevy of the gardens’ birds provided an impromptu descant for the program. The evening, which drew 188 guests and raised $188,000 for the Grammy Award-winning choristers, honored the chorus’s Assistant Director Mandy Brigham who will retire at the end of this season after a 22-year career. Tanvir Gopal chaired the gala committee that included Elizabeth Besch, Steven Deschenes, Elizabeth Calciano Fagan, Jena Liddy, Theresa Patten-Koeckert, Annabel Raymond, Aniela Rigali, Elizabeth Voxman and Andrea Greene Willard.

Coming up

APRIL 27 >> “Notes on Hope” featuring J’Nai Bridges and Ulysses Owens Jr. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hills. 7:30 p.m. thewallis.org .

APRIL 27 >> L.A. Opera Off Grand presents the West Coast Premieres of “TRADE” and “Mary Motorhead, two one-act operas composed by Emma O’Halloran and Mark O’Halloran. REDCAT at the Music Center. Performances continue through April 30. LAOpera.org.

APRIL 29 >> Pasadena Symphony presents “An American in Paris.” Ambassador Auditorium., Pasadena. pasadenasymphony-pops.org.

APRIL 29 >> San Marino Junior Alliance presents “Spirit of Ohana” Benefit” to support Casa Treatment Center in Pasadena. San Gabriel Country Club, San Gabriel. connie knott4@gmail.com.

APRIL 29 >> “A World of Harmony” presented by the Burbank Chorale. St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church,1920 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale. bale.org.

APRIL 29 >> Pasadena Art Alliance presents Fringe Benefit, an exhibition by Art Center College of Design. Art Center College of Design, 870 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. 6:30 p.m. pasadenaartallianace.org.

MAY 2 >> Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra presents Master Works for String Orchestra featuring works by Von Bingen, Britten, Mendelssohn, Hindemith and Grieg. The Huntington Library, San Marino 7:30 p.m. laco.org.

MAY 4 >> USC Trojan Affiliates features Dr. Steven Siegel, USC professor and chair of Psychiatry Behavioral Sciences, speaking on Well-Living Positively for a Sustained Mental Health” Pinnochio Restaurant, Pasadena. 6 p.m. sisarah@vweizon.net.

MAY 6 >> The Women of Eagle Scouts sponsors their Wind Under Their Wings Brunch to honor the women behind the Eagle Scouts. St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, Pasadena. 10:30 a.m. Lucia.bernal@scouting.org.

MAY 6 >> The Pasadena Chorale presents “Brahms and Beyond.” First United Methodist Church, Pasadena. 7:30 p.m. PasadenaChorale.org.

MAY 7 >> College Women’s Club of Pasadena hosts its Scholarship Awards Ice Cream Social. The Blinn House, Pasadena. 2 p.m. cwcpasadena.org.

MAY 7 >> A Noise Within’s ‘Daring to Love’ season closes with a love letter to life in the theater: “The Book of Will” by Lauren Gunderson. Performances continue through May 12. A Noise Within Theater, Pasadena. anoisewithin.org.

MAY 13 >> Villa Esperanza Services presents “Villa Land” honoring Yun and Rich Byrd as the 24th Annual Guardian Angel Award recipients. The Langham Huntington Hotel, Pasadena. 6 p.m. Gala.VillaES.org.

MAY 19 >> Camerata Pacifica presents “Gala” honoring Carola Henry. The Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles.

MAY 20 >> Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra presents “Shankar plays Shankar,” featuring Anoushka Shankar. Alex Theatre, Glendale. 8 p.m. laco.org .

MAY 21 >> The Melodia Mariposa Ensemble performs with pianist/organist Mark Robson. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Altadena. 4 p.m. melodiamariposa.org .

JUNE 3 >> L.A. City Council member Tom LaBonge aka “Mr. Los Angeles,” will posthumously receive the Betty White Conservation Hero Award at the annual Beastly Ball to benefit the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. lazoo.org.

JUNE 17 >> Pasadena POPS presents The Fray. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

JUNE 24 >> Pasadena POPS presents Divas through the Ages. L.A. County Arboretum. pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

JUNE 29 >> Center Theatre Group opens the Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical, “Into the Woods.” Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center. Performances continue through July 30. centertheatregroup.org.

JULY 15 >> Pasadena POPS presents Kings of Soul. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

JULY 29 >> Pasadena POPS presents Michael Feinstein Sings Broadway. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. Pasadenasymphony-pops.org.

AUGUST 11 >> Center Theatre Group presents the West Coast premiere of “Peter Pan Goes Wrong.” Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center. Performances continue through Sept. 10. Centertheatre group.org .

AUGUST 12 >> Pasadena POPS presents Viva Las Vegas! L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

AUGUST 26 >> Pasadena POPS presents the Music of Queen. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

SEPT. 9 >> Pasadena POPS presents Hollywood Blockbusters. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. Pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

*Attending indoor arts and entertainment events during the COVID-19 pandemic carries risks. Please remember to adhere to the rules prescribed by the CDC and local health officials.

Patt Diroll writes a bi-weekly society column for this newspaper. She can be reached at pattdiroll@gmail.com .