Tom Herrick, Allison Pfeiffer, Ashley Coombs, Michael Hogan
ONE OF THE CITY'S favorite performing arts orgs — Stages theater company — threw its typically intimate and fun annual gala recently, on its own premises at the still-new Gordy theater complex, raising well more than half a mil to further its creative mission.
This year’s ball boasted the world-premiere of a cirque-style Alice in Wonderland-inspired show — ribbon dancing, acrobatics, even a burlesque-y partial striptease-while-juggling number — to delight the 180 guests of chairs Alicia and Garrett Gordy (yes, that same Gordy family) between cocktail hour and dinner.
The meal, which featured wines chosen by ardent Stages supporter Chris Shepherd, included melon ball gazpacho with jumbo lump crab and cucumber ribbons. The soup was followed by medallions of beef tenderloin with cabernet-caramelized shallot glaze, mascarpone polenta and wilted greens.
Popular items in what turned out to be a record-breaking silent auction included “a True Yellow Experience with a stay at Double Arrow Ranch nestled between the Crazy Mountains and the banks of the Yellowstone River, an authentic cattle drive, and plenty of trout fishing,” per a Stages rep. “Other top items included an 18K Gold necklace from acclaimed jewelry creator Robert Wander; a private dinner at the home of James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd; and a VIP Astros experience.”
Notable guests included Glenda and Russell Gordy, George Lancaster; Charles Walker, Stages board chair Myrtle Jones, James and Nicole Lassiter and Marnie Greenwood.
In all, the gala raised $550,000 for Stages’ important mission.
Alicia Gordy, Christopher Mitchell, Glenda Gordy
Brandon Weinbrenner and Mauri Oliver
Cabrina and Steven Owsley
Charles and Kerry Walker
Garrett Gordy, Chris Shepherd, Russell Gordy
George Lancaster, Myrtle Jones
Jerry Barnett and Michael Byars
Jill Roth and Ben Lipson
Kalinda Campbell and Sledge Leonidas
Katie Maltais, Beth Lane, Lindsey Brown, Stacy Soefer Gomar
Lauren and Bob Hagerich
Marnie Greenwood, Alicia Gordy, Alexandra Bruskoff
Rick Pasqualone and Denise Fennell
Rina and Ryan O'Malley, Garrett Gordy, Rich Bruskoff
Frederica von Stade (photo by Michelle Watson)
Jonathan and Ann Ayre and Rachel and Warren Ellsworth (photo by Michelle Watson)
Tiffany Sebastian, Kristin Bingham and Amanda Abiassi (photo by Dave Rossman)