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
David Hoctor, Sue Smith, Gregg Harrison
Raising a whopping $4.2 million — including the purchase of some 45 disabled-friendly vans to be given directly to underprivileged families with kids with special needs — the organization’s 26th annual ball blew away previous records. Jana and Richard Fant bought 10 of them themselves.
The night’s entertainment blew away the crowd, too. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Association and Herman’s Hermits! — yes, all three bands — performed. Iconic hits from the 1960s filled the ballroom, and party people filled the dance floor.
Highlights of the evening included remarks from Trini Mendenhall, who was honored with HCC’s “Lifetime of Giving” award. Also: the electric moment when Randy Nichols placed the winning bid of $110,000 for a 2024 Porsche Cayenne.
HCC’s leadership — the likes of Laura Ward, Tilman Fertitta and Gary Becker — welcomed a who’s who for the bash. Those spotted in the crowd included Margaret Alkek Williams, Gary Petersen, Amy and Rob Pierce, Paige Fertitta, Michael Fertitta, Blake Fertitta, Blayne Fertitta, Patrick J. Fertitta, Kristina Somerville, District Attorney Kim Ogg, mayoral candidate John Whitmire, Ajay and Sippi Khurana, Frances Moody Buzbee and Tony Buzbee, who took center stage to help encourage van buying.
HCC describes its mission as seeking to improve the quality of life for Greater Houston’s underprivileged, abused and disabled children who have been otherwise left behind.
Tilman Fertitta, Laura Ward
Trini Mendenhall, Philip Royalty
Hallie Vanderhider, Bobby Dees
Omar Alaoui, Maria Moncada Alaoui
Carson Brown, Kristina Somerville
Gary Becker
Jose Lopez, Kelli Lopez
Emely Valadez, Maria Moncada Alaoui, Ashley Parker, Marianna Brasel, Robert
Dale
Laura Ward, Tony Buzbee
Lane Craft, Chita Craft, Wallis Marsh, DeeDee Marsh