Lady Fyda-Mar’s Grande Soirée

An Evening Celebrating 26 Years of Chance Storytelling

» Saturday, November 2nd

Prepare to step back in time to the elegance and grandeur of the Regency Era! This exclusive event will dazzle you with enchanting cocktails, elegant dining, a scintillating auction, and spirited performances by Chance artists. The best part? Your presence will help us raise funds to support our artistic programs, education and outreach efforts, new play development, and the incredible artists who make it all possible!

Schedule of Events:

4:30pm – Cocktails & Hors-D’Ouevres, Silent Auction, Wine Pull, Duchess Dance Cards and… your chance to GREET THE QUEEN!

6:00pm – Live Entertainment & Special Honor of Mary Kay, First Course Served

7:00pm – Dinner Break

7:45pm – Live Entertainment Continues, Silent Auction Closes

8:30pm – Dessert & Grande Ball with music & dancing in the style of Miss Jane Austen

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Mary Kay found her heart’s home at Chance Theater…

after attending a performance of “It’s A Wonderful Life, The Musical.” That moment sparked a journey that led her to become a dedicated member, a cherished board director, and one of our most passionate supporters. After retiring from a remarkable 27-year career at The Boeing Company, Mary Kay devoted herself fully to the theater she loved.

Born in Pennsylvania, raised in Ohio, and a proud Orange County resident since 1977, Mary Kay’s life was one of service and generosity. With degrees from Michigan State University and a prestigious fellowship at MIT, she left a lasting impact in her professional life and beyond. Her commitment to excellence was evident through her roles as a senior examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program and a judge for the California Awards for Performance Excellence.

Mary Kay’s kindness extended to her community as well. She was an active member of Altrusa International of Anaheim, where she led efforts to promote literacy, and she crafted comforting quilts for Project Linus, offering warmth to children in need.

Though we lost Mary Kay in October 2017, her spirit lives on in the countless lives she touched. This year, Chance Theater is proud to honor the memory of an arts champion who gave so much of herself to make our community a better place. Join us in celebrating Mary Kay Fyda-Mar, a woman whose legacy of love, generosity, and commitment continues to inspire us all.

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Special Thanks

Title Sponsors
The Aitken-Penn Family
The Family of Mary Kay Fyda-Mar

Premiere Sponsors
Molly Mahoney & John Dominguez

$5,000+ Sponsors
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken & Michael Penn
Sally Ann Catering

$1,200+ Sponsors
Susan Bowman & Freddie Greenfield
California Bank of Commerce
Sophie & Larry Cripe
The Family of Mary Kay Fyda-Mar
Frances Riggs
Bill & Sue Shapiro
Linda Maggard Family
Laurie Smits Staude
Chris & Steve Sumpter
Vangie Thomson
Chris Kim & Jeannine Torres

Chance Theater is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. EIN# 11-3679644

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Check out some photos from last year’s Fairy Tale-themed Gala (below) and be sure to check out this year’s theme, “Lady Fyda-Mar’s Grande Soirée”!

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