May busted loose with a heck of a lot of talent on stage for fundraising in Dallas. For Friday, May 1, Julie Hawes and Muffin Lemak were reining the Flying Horse 2015’s Made in the Heart of Dallas. Things started off in the east patio of the Winspear Opera House with a pre-show cocktail party followed by a Booker T. Washington Student Showcase in Booker T. Washington High School’s Montgomery Arts Theatre. Afterward the party continued for patrons at Place at Perry’s to raise funds for Booker T.
Across town at Fair Park, the Dallas Summer Musicals’ Curtain Call had the Music Hall filled with boldfacers, music and food. Here’s a report from the field:
Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) rolled out the red carpet to welcome guests arriving at the Music Hall at Fair Park for the 11th Annual Curtain Call gala honoring Ruth Sharp Altshuler and celebrating Dallas Summer Musicals’ 75th Anniversary.
Among those joining in the celebration were DSM President and Managing Director Michael A. Jenkins, Chair of the Curtain Call Steering Committee Wendy Jenkins, DSM Chairman of the Board Dorsey Baskin, Nancy and Ron Natinsky – Nancy had just wrapped up chairing DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards a couple of days before – Margot and Ross Perot, Ed Cox, Sally Hoglund, Cindy and Chuck Gummer, Holly and Brad Reeves, Sara Lee and Stan Gardner, Dee Simmons, Regina Pistor, Suzanne and David Palmlund – Suzanne is chairing next year’s gala – and more, most of whom were members of the host committee.
While enjoying wine, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, the bidding in the silent auction was the topic of conversation, especially the Premier items, including a Breathtaking Autumn Mountain Getaway in Colorado, a Grand Slam Evening with The Texas Rangers at Globe Life Ballpark and a Panama City getaway. One of the most exciting of all prizes was the raffle of 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles.
The 75th Anniversary program The Music, The Magic, The Memories began with Dorsey welcoming everyone and thanking Superstar underwriters, including Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians, Inc., Caroline Rose Hunt, Billie Leigh Rippey and DSM’s 75th Season Sponsor, Texas Instruments, and the Steering Committee of past chair women including Cynthia Beaird, Wendy Bridges, Patti Flowers, Mary Gill, Cindy Gummer, Wendy Jenkins, Milla Perry Jones, Holly Reeves and Sandy Watson.
Michael Jenkins introduced Ruth as not only a friend but a member of the DSM family and related a story of her late husband, Charles Sharp, and his involvement in the early 1960s. Since those years, Ruth has continued her involvement in DSM both as an honorary chair and as a member of the Executive Committee, giving countless hours and contributions.
Taking the stage, Ruth related many stories of her recollections of memories with former DSM Managing Director Tom Hughes, and her involvement through the years not only with Dallas Summer Musicals, but with the community and the many personalities, political and business leaders with names familiar to everyone in the audience.
The show began with a video celebrating the rich history of Dallas Summer Musicals, including a selection of melodies and photographs from over 660 productions. Accompanied by a live orchestra conducted by Brian Piper, an ensemble of performances by Blake Davidson, Megan Demsky, Joseph Scott Holt, Keron Jackson, Traci Lee, Sally Soldo, Victoria Valentine and Richmond Punch – a violinist who, as a former usher at DSM, received a scholarship funded by the coins in the fountain downstairs at the Music Hall and today, came back to perform for DSM. The performances were topped off with a special treat: Tony® Award winner and Fort Worth native, Betty Buckley, who has been called “The Voice of Broadway,” sang a selection of Broadway favorites.
After the show, dinner was served and a champagne toast celebrated DSM’s 75th Anniversary to a standing ovation. Everyone left with a copy of the newly published 75th Anniversary book, 75 years of Creating Memories, full of photos and a timeline of performances, dating back to the first performance in 1941, and a custom candle gift sponsored by Thompson & Knight Foundation and created especially for this event by Lakewood Candle Company.
Funds raised from Curtain Call benefit the children’s programs of Dallas Summer Musicals, including High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Academy of Performing Arts, Stage Right, Seats for Kids, Kids Club and Hear Us Now!™
For the past 75 years, DSM has played a leading role as the oldest and largest nonprofit theater company in North Texas and a presenter of extraordinary musical theater productions, while increasing its presence in education and community programs which invest in the next generation of artists, performers and future patrons.
The Jenkins agree, saying, “DSM is a professional and personal passion for both of us, one we have been involved with for numerous years and one that is dear to our hearts. We encourage everyone to attend in support of these programs which bring the magic of musical theater to thousands of children each year. These programs are the very heart of Curtain Call. Seventy-five is the year of the diamond, but what really makes us sparkle is the opportunity to open a child’s eyes to musicals and watch how that experience changes their life.”
The host committee is Cynthia and Dorsey Baskin, Cynthia and Brice Beaird, April and Michael Bosworth, Dianna and Ed Bratton, Wendy and Brad Bridges, Diane and Hal Brierley, Connie and Denny Carreker, Angela and Brad Cheves, Cindy and Scott Collier, Richard Collins, Dolorie and Paul Corley, Jr., Kathy and William Cothrum, Betsy and Guinn Crousen, Barbara and Don Daseke, Peggy Dear, Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley, Jay Fox, Sara Lee and Stan Gardner, Mary Gill, Donna and Rick Graham, Cindy and Chuck Gummer, Kay and Jim Hammond, Shyla High and Ed Valentine, Sally and Forrest Hoglund, Caroline Rose Hunt, Linda and Steve Ivy, Doris and Jack Jacobs, Sue and Phil John, Milla Perry Jones, Darrell Jordan, Shanna and Sheffield Kadane, Norma and David Little, Sara and David Martineau, Cynthia and Lester Melnick, Jennifer and Steve Metzger, Anne and Bruce Monning, Nancy and Ron Natinsky, Suzanne and David Palmlund, Jane and Chick Pierce, Regina Pistor, Gail and Bill Plummer, Patsy and Bud Porter, Holly and Brad Reeves, Billie Leigh Rippey, Carol and Don Spies, Victoria and Michael Steindorf, Anne and Steve Stodghill, Sandy and Steve Watson, Jane and Clark Willingham, Susan and Addison Wilson, Debbie and Robert Witte, Laura and Randy Wright, Kimberly Yamanouchi and Jim Sackett.
Curtain Call media sponsors are Modern Luxury Dallas and Park Cities News/The Waters Family. Dallas Summer Musicals presenting sponsor is Texas Instruments. Season partners are American Airlines, Dallas Morning News and WFAA Channel 8.
* Photo credit: Christian Waits