Beyond a 'Shadow of a Doubt', Hitchcock-Themed Alley Ball Is Spellbinding Soiree

Jacob Power & Wilson Parish
Beyond a 'Shadow of a Doubt', Hitchcock-Themed Alley Ball Is Spellbinding Soiree

Laura Anne Day

AN APPROPRIATELY DRAMATIC event, this year’s Alley Ball transformed the Post Oak Hotel into an old-Hollywood-themed tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. Bold red curtains framed large screens playing black and white clips of classic Hitchcock films, and the centerpieces made of dark red roses had crows hidden in them! This was the backdrop for a spellbinding night that raised $1.22 mil for the theater.


During cocktail hour, a large bar designed to look like a ‘50s-era movie-theater concessions stand occupied the main reception area. On the bar were curious boxes emanating smoke; guests who dared open them were surprised with a martini!

Before dinner was served, guests heard from the man himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Well, Alley actor Chris Salazar dressed as Hitchcock welcomed guests alongside fellow company members portraying some of the filmmaker’s most beloved characters from The Birds, Psycho, and Rear Window.

The live auction was a theater-lover’s dream, boasting a walk-on roll in the Alley’s beloved Christmas Carol and a luxury trip to enjoy The Devil Wears Prada on London’s West End up for grabs! The party progressed onto the hypnotic black-and-white dancefloor — a nod to the movie Vertigo — where revelers danced until after midnight to The Big Beyond.

Alley Theatre stages Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder this summer as part of its Summer Chills programming.

Dean Gladden, Roger & Connie Plank, Angela & Craig Jarchow, Rob Melrose

Scarlett Hankey & Ryan Arnoult

Kelly Noel, Valerie Jalufka, Gayle Delahunt

Tony & Cynthia Petrello

Vertigo on the dancefloor!

Hector and Victoria Longoria, Carly Standley, Arturo Chavez

Health LaPray & Travis Torrence

Ford Hubbard & Renee Lewis

Derrick Shope & Brandon Bourque

Sofia & Nadeem Sheikh

Oscar Brown & Sarah Morgan

Betty Hrncir, Sidney Faust, John Hrncir

Kelly Somoza, Brandon Weinbrenner & Beth Madison

Alex and Victoria Lazar

Roger and Connie Plank

Parties

Rachel Gardner with her flower necklaces and, at left, Calla Lilly necklace

ON SATURDAY JULY 27, Foltz Gallery presents Endless Summer, a lively, playful exhibit of works by a multi-generational group of 28 emerging and established Texas-based artists. Taking its name from the 1974 Beach Boys double-album, which compiled the group’s early 1960s hit singles, the show is a visual “mixtape” of colorful paintings, prints, photographs, wall-based installations, ceramics and sculptures, installed lovingly throughout Foltz’s spacious and sunlit galleries. Among the works in Endless Summer are several examples of handmade “sculptural jewelry” by artist Rachel Gardner — a series of wearable wildflowers and fruits, including olives and strawberries.

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Art + Entertainment

Aesha Scott, Jack Vielhauer, Courtney Scott

AFTERNOON SHOWERS DIDN'T stop a gorgeous gaggle of yo-pros and creatives from filling downtown’s Z on 23 rooftop lounge to meet Aesha Scott, the standout star of Bravo’s Below Deck reality show.

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Parties