Party Cast in Stone : Stars of an SCR Benefit Shell Out for a Crustacean Dinner in a Rock House

The event: A traditional New England clambake to thank underwriters of South Coast Repertory’s upcoming “Stage Struck!” gala. Thursday’s beach party was held at the landmark rock house in Laguna Beach.

Piece of the rock: Literally carved out of a massive rock, the home of SCR trustee Dennis Morin looks like something out of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Everything flows. Walls, doors, fixtures and furnishings all have wavy lines. “Dennis didn’t want a square room in the house,” said Butch Witek, the builder. Waterfalls in front and back of the home and a rocky creek inside give the illusion that a river runs through it.

“We didn’t know when we started how it would end up,” Morin said. About 120 guests explored the cave-like dwelling while sampling grilled tiger shrimp, cape scallops, Wescott oysters and New England fish chowder.

Lobster bash: Morin staged a clambake much like the ones he enjoyed while living in his native Maine. More than 100 imported whole Maine lobsters, or “lobstahs” as Morin calls them, and Ipswich clams were steamed in seaweed (the host stopped short of baking them in sand pits in the classic East Coast manner).

Party-goers consumed the crustaceans by bashing them with rocks--a challenge for neophytes. Good thing Morin had warned them to leave their dressy, designer outfits at home and wear casual beach clothes.

Quote: “Dennis said, ‘If you want me to do this party, I want to do it myself. I don’t want a committee of 19,’ ” said Olivia Johnson, chairwoman of the gala for the theater in Costa Mesa. “When he puts his mind to something, he can move rocks.”

Faces: Martin and Heather Klein; Cindy Tuch; Larry and Dee Higby; Martin and Elaine Weinberg; Jim and Barbara Glabman; Mark and Barbara Johnson; Ron and Sandi Simon; and Tom and Joyce Tucker.

Bottom line: Underwriters contributed $5,000 to $20,000 for a table of 10 at the upcoming “Stage Struck!” gala. Guests are encouraged to wear creative black-tie attire for that event. “It’s all about being someone else and playing roles,” Olivia Johnson said.

What’s ahead: Tickets to “Star Struck!” $350. The gala will be Sept. 27 at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. For details, call the theater office: (714) 708-5500.