Cherry Whitley, Brian Teichman, Amber Richardson and Hershey Grace
The event, chaired by Cheryl Byington and Brian Teichman, raised $850,000 for Houston SPCA’s mission to improve and protect the lives of animals in the community and alleviate their suffering and abuse, a rep for the organization said. Guests opted between full-on costumes — the Laird Doran’s bull rider with the inflatable bull was memorable — and elegant black-tie.
“Inspired by the theme, guests were transported to an elegant, haunted Howl-O-Ween mansion as they made their way into the arena,” noted the rep. “Fashioned by Bergner and Johnson, wispy lilac-colored ferns feathered through flowers creating a ghost effect.
“Partygoers sipped on libations and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres during the cocktail hour while perusing the silent auction. Highly sought after items included a Texas A&M suite experience at Kyle Field, Bald Eagle release and Palm Desert getaway.”
Dinner included a bibb lettuce salad with grilled pear, followed by pan-seared chicken with caramelized-shallot and Armagnac jus. Pumpkin molasses muffins provided a seasonal touch. Dessert was vanilla panna cotta with apple compote accompanied by calvados caramel, white chocolate and shortbread cookies. “Cupcakes, coffee, cocktails and cuddles were also available in the adoption center,” said the nonprofit rep.
Even better than dessert? The sweet sounds of soulful musician Bubba McNeely, a beloved Houston favorite who played for the dancing throngs after dinner.
Guests included Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, Frances Moody and Tony Buzbee; Zane and Brady Carruth, Hershey Grace, Ed McMahon, Beth Wolff, Cynthia Wolff, Bruce Padilla, Shelby Kibodeaux and Constable Alan Rosen.
Cynthia Wolff, Beth Wolff and Brittany Clark
Tony Buzbee and Frances Moody Buzbee
Brian Teichman and Cheryl Byington
Gayle and Mike Klaybor
Hershey Grace and Ed McMahon
John and Debbie Putnam
Patricia Mercer and Evelyn H. Griffin
Tommy Venus and Mia Holstead
Myrtle Jones, Khori Dastoor and Sara Morgan
Usually a spectacle of lavish music and opulent celebration, Opening Night this year provided the backdrop for the first performance of Intelligence, a stirring opera based on the true story of an American slave woman who became a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War. Composer Jake Heggie, librettist Gene Scheer, and director-choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar were all on hand, and they took the stage to take their bows with the splendid cast after the show; mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton starred in the leading role.
Cast and creators — also including the Urban Bush Women, whose modern dance entranced the crowd during the performance — mingled with guests at the post-performance black-tie dinner staged in a great magnolias-laden tent on the Wortham Fish Plaza outside, the flowers nodding to the Southern theme.
The Southern food on offer won almost as many raves as the show! “An inspired menu … selected by event co-chairs Myrtle Jones and Sara Morgan, included fried quail with cream gravy, wilted chard, buttermilk biscuits, pickled okra and Morgan’s own family spoonbread recipe,” gushed a rep for the opera company. “Traditional peach crisp and pecan praline parting gifts for guests proved a sweet ending to the night.”
Some $720,000 was raised, with some 500 guests reveling in the successful, historic evening. Boldface names spotted around the Wortham included HGO honchos Khori Dastoor and Patrick Summers, Len Cannon, Isabel and Danny David, Margaret Alkek Williams, Allyson Pritchett, Claire Liu and Joe Greenberg, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton, Brigitt Kalai, Carey Kirkpatrick, Beth Madison, Andrew Pappas and C.J. Martin, Betty and Jess Tutor, Bobbie Nau, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Molly and Jim Crownover and Andrea White.
Irene Mavrianos, Dr. Nishi Mehdiratta
C.C. and Duke Ensell
Allyson Pritchett, Theodore Pritchett
Cece Fowler, Masoud Ledjevardian
Heather Hughes, Marshall Campbell
Carl Palazzolo and Franci Neely
Pedro Salazar, Tania Kane, Josh Merwin, Tamar Mendelssohn, Denise Reyes, Matt Healey
Chris Hollins, Emily and David Sheeran
Vanessa Gilmore, Kendra Mhoon
Jess and Betty Tutor
Norma and Beto Cardenas