Twenty-six “celebrity” waiters or waiter teams have committed to serve at this year’s SCV Senior Center Celebrity Waiter Dinner, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. Some have been recruited to serve specific sponsored tables, and others have volunteered to serve at any tables which still need waiters. Some come to the event in teams and others will serve as individuals.

Waiters currently on the roster include Janine Prado, Linda Davies, Yolie Haramia, Alan Ferdman, Laura Kirchoff, Lori Murphy, Nick Ventura, Michel Delcros, Miriam Robles, Robin Clough and Gene Dorio, M.D., Sid Jurman, Patrice and Ken Rifkind, Julie Olsen, Ken Dean, Mikee Schwinn, TimBen Boydston, James Edson, Nathan Criner, Scott Wilk Jr., Samuel Price, Laurie Jenkins, Andrew Tabin, Christy Smith, Dawnel DeRubeis, Logan Smith and Chris Shage.

This year’s theme is Let the Music Play, and table sponsors are reserving their themes based on musicians, musical genres and more. Guests, and their waiters, are encouraged to come in costume, according to the table’s theme. Awards will go to the best decorated table and the one that best personifies the event theme.

Musical table themes reserved to date include a tribute to Frank Sinatra, The Great White Way (a tribute to Broadway), Rock N’ Roll, All That Jazz, Beach Boys, Disco, Beatles, Music Through the Ages, Punk, Katy Perry and California Girls, The Fabulous 50s, The 80s, Elvis, Margaritaville (a tribute to Jimmy Buffet), Dark Side of the Moon (a tribute to Pink Floyd), and Footloose.

Brian Koegle will serve as master of ceremonies, and this year’s event co-chairs are Vanessa Wilk and Tony Watson. Michael Hogan, who served as a celebrity waiter at the 2016 event, will be the disk jockey for 2017.

Auctioneer Curt Waite is working on a surprise game that will give all guests a chance to win a valuable prize. Dancing to Michael Hogan’s recorded music, entertainment and waiter antics are all part of the evening. Hogan is gathering a playlist of songs to fit the table themes, and guests can tip him with scrip to play their table’s theme music.

Although the Hyatt’s wait staff handles the formal food service, waiters can earn “tips” toward the Favorite Waiter award by performing extra services for their guests or amusing them with their antics. A number of waiters also are starting their race toward Favorite Waiter status by conducting pre-event fund-raising among family, friends and customers.

Table sponsorships are available at levels ranging from $5,000, to $1,500, each seating 10 guests. Table sponsorships come with such perks as preferred table location, wine and other benefits, depending on sponsorship level. Guests who are not part of a sponsored table can purchase individual seats for $150, which includes a package of $50 in scrip for waiter “tips.” Sponsors can provide their own “celebrity” waiter or request the committee to provide a waiter.

Assuming the event sells out with 30 tables, the committee is still seeking additional volunteers to serve as waiters. Potential volunteers can find out more by contacting Tracy Hauser, this year’s Waiter Co-chair, at tracyhauser12@gmail.com.

Online visitors can see photos of past events and comments on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/scvcelebritywaiter/?fref=ts. Guests and table sponsors can make purchases online and obtain further information at www.myscvcoa.org/celebritywaiter.