Just back from the TACA Silver Cup luncheon honoring Peggy Sewell and Roger Nanney at the Hilton Anatole. Of course, emcee Lee Cullum did her annual state of the arts report with a couple of zingers and several pats on the back.
One of those pats went to the Dallas Opera for its not being the same old opera thanks to Keith Cerny and the out-of-the-box projects that have been undertaken. In fact, TACA just presented DO with the largest of its 2012 grants this past January.
However, the DO has not thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Thank heaven, there are certain timeless traditions that are still in place!
For instance? Well, how about Thursday’s 21st Annual Founders Luncheon presented by the Dallas Opera Women’s Board at Brook Hollow? This year they are presenting the Juanita and Henry S. Miller Founders Award to Joy and Ronald Mankoff for their “deep commitment to arts education, which is reflected by their underwriting of the Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Performance Lecture.”
Last year’s luncheon was a kick. Hunky tenor James Valenti performed to the delight of all. Shoot! He could have sung tunes from the Mitch Miller era and they would have loved it.
Just goes to show that you just never know what you’re going to get when you attend anything associated with the Dallas Opera.
Tickets are available for purchase by oldtimer and newbie opera lovers.