Nevada Opera Theatre Guild gets into the holiday spirit

Nevada Opera Theatre Guild had its 30th annual Holiday Celebration Luncheon and Musical Revue on a December Sunday at the Cili Restaurant at Bali Hai Golf Course.

Guests were welcomed at the door by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. The Champagne reception offered time for socializing and participation in the guild's silent auction that offered jewelry by Michael Minden, Sigrid Insull and John Fish Jewelers; a tour of the Pahrump Valley Winery and its Symphony's Restaurant; an Oscar de la Renta Scarf; designer handbags; a weekend at the Four Seasons; and various restaurant dinners.

The 135 opera aficionados and guests were welcomed by Karen Scherer, Opera Guild president, and Eileen Hayes, event coordinator and founder and general director of Nevada Opera Theatre. Amy Thomason was introduced as the incoming Nevada Opera Theatre president.

Also introduced were opera scholarship recipients Sheronda McKee and Carrie Wachsberger of UNLV's doctoral program, and 17-year-old Sarah Fihn of the Las Vegas Academy.

A three-course luncheon began with a salad of spinach, radicchio, feta cheese with bacon vinaigrette and wonton strips. The entree was chicken cordon bleu with smoked ham and Gruyere cheese, green beans and roasted red potatoes. Dessert was maple bundt cake with bourbon cream cheese frosting.

Guests included Dana and Mike Werner, Sigrid Insull, Sharon Gunberg, Unsertig and Charles Itonorene, Angie Wallin, Donna Lebow, Deborah Lynch, Wayne Scherer, Mary Ann Seibel, and Beverly and Mike Mykisen.

The entertainment began with the singing of seasonal songs by soloists including Sarah Fihn singing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," Shelly Martinsen and Lance Taubold singing "The Prayer," and "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Sheronda McKee did "Jingle Bell Rock." In recognition of Hanukkah, Elaine Casale sang "Hava Nagila." Morton Hyson sang "If I Were a Rich Man," and Carrie Wachsberger sang "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel." Piano accompaniment was by Ryan Kelly.

The guest entertainer/soloist was Dondino. He charmed the crowd with "Blue Christmas" and "Love is All."

Former Las Vegas showgirls Sharon Cahlan, Liz Lieberman and Ann Vizzarano make up a group known as the Ovation Dancers, and they performed with Santa Claus while singing and dancing to "Santa Baby."

Seen enjoying the afternoon production were Cindy Doumani, Linn and Daryl Thome, Annee Nounna, Bernie Sindler, Christina Fihn, Maria and James Fihn, Nicole Hyson, Mafalda, Donna Melchiore, and Stormi and Vince Caprice.

Members of the Nevada Opera Chorus Karyn Wheeler, Adrienne Mondeau, Connie Knight, Mike Martin, Dan Frank, Elizabeth Carlton, John Velms, Virginia Schilpp, Gloria Grave, Norma Price, Carol Fletcher, Peggy Cummings and Michael Rosenblatt concluded the luncheon party by singing "O Holy Night," "Jingle Bells" and "Silent Night."

More guests attending were Gemini Wii, Lucrecia Sparks, George Blackwell, Helene Linden, Gaetano Benza, Teri McGowen, Sol Lokomol, Linda Hatcher, Monica Cisek, Tom Hartin, Joan Munsell, Susan Sollaur, Sandra and Kim Youmans, Lizon Block, Paula Perez, Bella Hernandez, Debbie Bakka, Marissa Mondeau, Barbara and David Green, and Donna and Mark Kalbfleisch.