parties

For Stages, an Emotional and Chic Fuchsia-Hued Function Raises $1.2 Million

Jacob Power and Priscilla Dickson
For Stages, an Emotional and Chic Fuchsia-Hued Function Raises $1.2 Million

Becca Cason Thrash and Kenn McLaughlin

THE STAGE'S THEATER company’s annual Gala at the Gordy was more elaborate than ever, and memorable in many ways — not the least of which was the emotional sendoff to Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin, who’s retiring this summer and moving to Ireland.

“The unforgettable night of celebration and wonder included a cocktail reception, a three-course seated dinner provided by Jackson & Company and a dance party under disco balls and DJ Mohawk spinning beats,” said a rep for Stages, adding that the ball raises nearly $1.2 million.

There was also a performance on the Gordy’s Sterling stage, featuring musical numbers from some of McLaughlin’s favorite productions over the years. Past actors performed songs from “Godspell,” “Grey Gardens,” “The Fantasticks,” and many others.

After the show, a surf-and-turf dinner was served on a sleekly decorated, tented plaza in front of the theater. The tent walls and the table florals of white dogwood branches glowed pink, a nod to McLaughlin’s favorite color — fuchsia — which guests were encouraged to wear.

One such pretty-in-pink partygoer was Becca Cason Thrash, joining hubby John, as well as Sally and Philip Edmundson and Glenda and Russell Gordy as honorary chairs. Becca, once Houston’s top party hostess and a fixture on the scene at events such as the Stages gala, lives in Paris now, so her presence was lovely surprise to many guests. She jumped on stage at the dinner to help push an auction item — a first-class trip to Paris, of course — that she helped orchestrate.

McLaughlin himself also made remarks at dinner, moving many to tears with his eloquent swan song, reminding the crowd of the power of Stages’ motto: “We sit together in the dark to know how to love each other in the light.”

George C. Lancaster, Stages board president, served as co-chair of the gala, along with Kay Bruce, Judy and Jim Nicklos, and Cabrina and Steven Owsley.


Daryl Bristow and Janet Gurwitch Bristow

Jo Furr, Russell and Glenda Gordy

Honorary Co-Chairs Sally and Philip Edmundson

Steven and Cabrina Owsley, Interim Managing Director David Schmitz, Judy and Jim Nicklos

Brandon Wilburn and Briana Conner

Kenn McLaughlin, George C. Lancaster

Dana Wolf Pauly, Erika Mandel, Stacy Soefer Gomar, Julie Atlas Taylor, Nicole Sofer Loewenstern

Dance party to end the night

Decor in tent at night

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With Expertise in Blondes, Extensions and More, the Janelle Alexis Team Is a Go-To Salon

Al Torres
With Expertise in Blondes, Extensions and More, the Janelle Alexis Team Is a Go-To Salon

YOU CAN'T LIMIT Janelle to one title – Hairdresser. Her career and business has been established and built on a strong foundation. Using her two business degrees + one more in-process, this enables Janelle and the team to deliver not only a customer-focused experience, but a foundationally solid business. There is much more than meets the eye, and in sharing a little bit about Janelle, she was not only an international hair extension educator for over 14 years, but brings extensive expertise to blondes. She rounds this out with her previously launched namesake cosmetic line, which is a perfect complement to her belief that “Beauty is our Business”.

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Fall Philanthropy Report: Easter Seals of Greater Houston ‘Impacts Where People Need Us the Most’

What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

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Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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