PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer

One of the life-size fiberglass cows featured in this spring's CowParade La Jolla exhibition was stolen last week, and a search is under way for its return.

CowParade officials say that sometime during the weekend of April 25-26, the 100-pound "Werc Cow," which had been colorfully spray-painted by local mural artist Werc Alvarez, was unbolted from the sidewalk in front of the Atelier Aucoin Salon on Girard Avenue in downtown La Jolla and quietly spirited away to points unknown.

The Werc Cow was one of 38 cows that had been painted and decorated by local artists for the five-month outdoor exhibition, which is spread throughout La Jolla and at Westfield UTC shopping center. At the conclusion of the exhibit, the remaining cows will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the Rady Children's Hospital San Diego and the Zoological Society of San Diego, on July 11. CowParade La Jolla president Bill Trumpfheller said each of the cows was expected to raise from $5,000 to $10,000.

"Unfortunately, these thieves have not just stolen a fiberglass cow," Trumpfheller said in a statement. "They are also taking money right out of the hands of two worthy organizations. We hope that everyone will help us find this stolen cow. It is a difficult economic climate to raise money for nonprofit organizations, and that makes this work of art even more valuable to our charitable partners."

The Werc Cow is brightly decorated with waves of red, green, pink and black color and a light blue background. Anyone with information regarding the location of the missing cow is asked to call the CowParade La Jolla hotline at (619) 881-3371 or contact the San Diego Police Department at (619) 531-2000.

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Longtime Channel 10 newscaster Carol LeBeau is in the midst of an extended on-air retirement celebration. To celebrate her 28 years on the air, the station is hosting "28 Years in 28 Days," where she looks back at her most memorable stories from the years.

They include covering the disappearance of murdered grade-schooler Danielle Van Dam in 2002, the San Diego firestorms in 2003 and 2007, the McDonald's massacre in San Ysidro in 1984 and the Heaven's Gate mass suicides in 1997. The episodes will be airing during the 5 p.m. newscasts all month.

Not all of her memories are so grim, though. The avid runner and rough-water swimmer has also anchored a long-running "Staying Healthy fitness segment.

LeBeau arrived in San Diego as a weekend anchor from Peoria, Ill., and has been one of the city's longest continually broadcasting television news anchors in history.

"Channel 10 has always been committed to the community of San Diego, and I feel honored to be a part of it," LeBeau said in a statement. "Being welcomed into so many people's homes each night has been truly gratifying."

Her last broadcast will be on the 11 p.m. newscast on May 20.

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The Tony nominations were announced Tuesday and two locally bred talents were among the honorees.

Kristin Hanggi, a 1995 graduate of Murrieta Valley High School, was nominated for Best Direction of a Musical for "Rock of Ages," which received four other nominations.

And Alice Ripley -- who grew up in San Diego and performed in the 1980s at the Old Globe, San Diego Repertory Theatre and Lyric Opera San Diego (formerly San Diego Gilbert & Sullivan Co.) -- was nominated for her lead performance in the musical "Next to Normal."

The Tony Awards ceremony takes place on June 7.

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Film and video students at Cal State San Marcos will showcase their final projects at 7 p.m. Friday with the third annual Student Media Festival.

The public is invited to the festival in the university's arts building. Student films and videos will be awarded prizes in seven categories, including documentary, social justice project, personal memoir and experimental/performance work. There will be an audience choice award and a special jury award for the best overall project. The jury will consist of Cal State students, alumni, teachers, community leaders and members of the media.

Admission is free, but there is a nominal parking fee. Visit csusm.edu/guide.

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On May 17, San Diego State University will honor Vista-bred musician Marisela Sager as its 2009 Music Alumnus of the Year.

Sager -- who attended Monte Vista Elementary, Lincoln Middle School and Rancho Buena Vista High School, all in Vista, then attended Palomar College in San Marcos for two years -- earned her music degree from SDSU in 1999, graduating magna cum laude with distinction.

Sager went on to become the assistant principal flutist for the Cleveland Orchestra, one of the most prestigious in America.

Sager will be honored at 3 p.m. May 17 at SDSU's Honors Convocation at Smith Recital Hall.

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This weekend, UC San Diego will host the grand opening of its $53 million Conrad Prebys Music Center, and the public is invited to have a look and a listen.

The university's state-of-the-art music center includes classrooms, practice studios, audio labs and performance spaces, including a 400-seat concert hall designed with world-class acoustics.

The new music center is on Russell Lane at the La Jolla campus. It is named for La Jolla philanthropist Prebys, who has donated $9 million to the college's music department since 2007.

From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, the center will be open for tours, demonstrations and free concerts by distinguished music faculty members. At 2 p.m., pianist Cecil Lytle will perform, violinist Janos Negyesy plays at 3 p.m. and pianist Aleck Karis plays at 4 p.m.

At 8 p.m. Saturday, a gala public concert will be held in the main concert hall. Tickets cost $25. Call (858) 534-8497.

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Single tickets go on sale next week for this fall's touring engagement of "Disney's The Lion King," which returns Oct. 13 to the San Diego Civic Theatre for a four-week run.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. May 14 at the Civic Center Box office (Third Avenue at B Street in San Diego), or by calling (619) 570-1100, online at broadwaysd.com or at all Ticketmaster outlets. Performances run Tuesdays-Sundays, with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are priced from $20 to $79.

During its last engagement in San Diego, a five-week run in late 2005, "The Lion King" sold out nearly all of its tickets in advance.

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Two ex-employees of the Moonstone Lounge & Sweetwater Saloon, two bars that closed at San Diego's Hard Rock Hotel in February, have sued the bars' former owner, Rande Gerber, in San Diego Superior Court, alleging Gerber made unwanted sexual advances toward them.

The women allege Gerber tried to kiss and fondle them, and when they refused his advances, they were fired. Through his attorneys, Gerber, who runs more than a dozen bars and nightclubs nationwide, has denied the claims as baseless.

Gerber's two bars were shut down last winter. Hotel managers say it was because the bar's bouncers were abusing bar customers. Gerber's attorney said in a statement that the closure was the result of a rent hike dispute with the management.

The bars have since reopened with new names, the lobby-level 207 and the rooftop lounge Float. Gerber is the husband of model/actress Cindy Crawford.

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What to give the mom who has everything this Mother's Day? How about a sleepover at the San Diego Zoo?

The zoo slumber party, held this Saturday evening and again on May 16, includes dinner with wine, a moonlit walk, animal presentations, private zoo bus tour, a breakfast, behind-the-scenes animal encounters and a morning stroll. Cost is $149 plus zoo admission. Reservations are required; call (800) 407-9534.

But be warned, the zoo isn't exactly the quietest place to catch a few winks. Many of the zoo's animals are nocturnal and become most active -- and vocal -- at night.

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This month, KOCT, Oceanside's public access television station, will pay tribute to one of its longtime on-air contributors, the late Robert Nanninga, with a monthlong series of programs it's calling "The Bob Show."

Nanninga, a well-known activist, poet, actor and writer from Encinitas, died on Valentine's Day at age 45.

"The Bob Show" will include a filmed poetry tribute to Nanninga that was held March 12 at the La Paloma Theatre. Also featured will be three documentaries by filmmaker Tom Reeser. They feature some of Nanninga's environmental preservation efforts.

The series will air multiple times throughout the month on KOCT Channel 18 and 19. They're also available online in live video streaming. For a complete schedule or streaming, visit www.koct.org.

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Lyric Opera San Diego's annual fundraising gala at 7 p.m. May 14 will include a highly theatrical fashion show designed by Fashion Forward founder Leonard Simpson, with live music by Poway actress twins Shelly Hart Brenneman and Shauna Hart Ostrum. The event takes place at Lyric Opera's home theater, the Birch North Park Theatre. Tickets cost $35 to $50. Call (619) 239-8836.

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Legoland California's Sea Life Aquarium in Carlsbad will host an electronic waste recycling event on May 16, and families who bring in their recyclable items (computers, monitors, televisions, cell phones, CD players, etc.) will receive one free ticket to the aquarium.

The event is from 8 a.m. to noon May 16 at the Aquarium on Legoland Drive. Visit recyclesandiego.org.

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The Aldridge family of Escondido is scheduled to appear on a pre-taped episode of the TV game show "Family Feud" on Wednesday morning. The family includes Sheila, a U.S. Navy veteran, twin cousins Loraine (a court clerk) and Lenore (a medical examiner); cousine Pauline (investment specialist) and aunt Betty (a business owner). They'll face off against the Melgren family of Coto de Caza, Calif.

"We decided to come on 'Family Feud' to have a great time and bring our family closer together," Lenore said. "If we win we're going to pay some bills and take a vacation, then share the rest with our family."

The episode will air at 3 p.m. Wednesday on KGTV Channel 10.

Pam Kragen is the entertainment editor of the North County Times