THE CHOC CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION INVITES THE PUBLIC TO SING AND DANCE FOR A CAUSE

Auditions Set for CHOC Follies XIII: The Wizard of OC

When: Sunday, Nov. 1 from 2 – 4 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Where: Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach (free valet parking)

Info: www.chocfollies.org; call Lois Augustine at (714) 532-8690

Over the past 12 years, the CHOC Follies has earned a reputation as one of Orange County’s most original – and most successful – charity events, raising more than $4.5 million since its inception. This year, the CHOC Children’s Foundation would like to invite Orange County residents to be part of the fun. Auditions for CHOC Follies XIII: The Wizard of OC are right around the corner on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 2 – 4 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. Join 100 of the county’s most prominent business, civic and society leaders as they sing and dance to raise funds for CHOC Children’s.

“Our motto is: If you can talk, you can sing; if you can walk, you can dance,” said Executive Producer Gloria Zigner. “It’s not often you can have the time of your life entertaining thousands of people while raising money for a wonderful cause – help us hit that $5 million mark!”

Audition Information

Anyone 21 and older who lives in Orange County is invited to audition – no theatrical experience is required! Participants need only attend one of the auditions, to be held in groups. If interested in a solo part, participants need to bring music for the pianist or a tape. Wear comfortable clothing. For more info, call Lois Augustine at (714) 532-8690.

Rehearsals will be held Saturdays and Wednesday evenings at 3420 Bristol St., Costa Mesa (across from South Coast Plaza on the corner of Bristol and Sunflower, California Bank & Trust – 4th Floor). The number of rehearsals participants will attend is determined by the production numbers they appear in and the size of their role. The first all-cast meeting will be held at the Island Hotel on Saturday, November 14 at 10 a.m.

Every cast member is required to raise a minimum of $1,000 through sponsorships, tickets and/or ads sales. Cameo sponsorship roles have a minimum number of rehearsals. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available.

CHOC Follies XIII: The Wizard of OC

This year’s Follies will run April 1- 3, 2010 at the Robert B. Moore Theatre at Orange Coast College. Tickets are $35 - $125. Proceeds from the 2009 and 2010 CHOC Follies have been designated to support the school room in CHOC Children’s new patient care tower, which is scheduled to open in 2013. The new school room will provide oncology patients, especially those who experience lengthy stays in the hospital, a designated space to participate in CHOC’s school program. This program offers one-on-one education support for children whose temporary hospital stayinterrupts their normal school routine, creating a sense of normalcy that is crucial to their emotional well-being.

About CHOC Children’s

CHOC Children’s is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to our patients. CHOC’s regional healthcare network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, several community clinics, a residency program that trains tomorrow’s pediatricians, and four centers of excellence – The CHOC Children’s Heart, Cancer, Neuroscience, and Orthopaedic Institutes.

CHOC earned the Silver Level CAPE Award from the California Council of Excellence – the only children’s hospital in California to ever earn this distinction, and was awarded Magnet designation – the highest honor bestowed to hospitals for nursing excellence. Recognized for extraordinary commitment to high-quality critical care standards, CHOC is the first children’s hospital in the nation to earn the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

For more information about CHOC Children’s, visit www.choc.org.