Event producer Todd Fiscus had spent part of the summer planning something different for the September 26th Dallas Symphony AT&T Gala. And he presented a sneak peak of his plans on Monday, August 17, in the Meyerson’s Opus restaurant for about 30 DSO AT&T Gala committee members, sponsors and friends like Ben Fischer, Cece Smith and Ford Lacy.
But before he presented a snippet of the look for the Friday, September 26, fundraiser for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerson, the crowd played the seasonal game of “catch up.”
Gala Co-Chair Key Coker reported how he and wife/Co-Chair Katherine Coker had opted for Williamsburg this summer with kidlets Olivia and Key Jr. The trip turned out to be quite a memory maker with Key amazed at the Rockefellers’ involvement in preserving the historic site. Still, he thinks it will be back to northeastern shores next summer.
Key then related how Katherine had years ago shown him some of her favorite places in Paris. Nonchalantly he added that she had spent 45 days in Paris being part of EDS staff at the World Cup.
Ironically, Katherine had gotten to know fellow Co-Chair Coley Clark when both worked at EDS, according to Co-Chair Jennifer Clark.
Another catch up was Lynn McBee on her way to join friends at Lark. For Lynn, the summer has been filled with care taking. It seems her mom has been “under the weather,” so Lynn has been spending part time in Galveston at her mom’s side. On the other hand, AT&T Gala sponsors rep Holly Reed amazed a friend telling how she had spent time learning the behind-the-scenes operation of the DEA in El Paso.
Laree Hulshoff was concerned about her WaterTower Theatre Gala Co-Chair Barbara Daseke. Barbara had planned to be at the DSO Gala preview. And why was the spiked-haired fundraiser MIA? Evidently, when Barbara stopped by her home to freshen up just an hour before, she discovered the house had been the victim of burglars. Her relief was that her new kitten, Tigger II, was left untouched but shaken by the ransacking of the place.
DSO GM Jonathan Martin told the crowd that this year’s gala would mark his third anniversary with the DSO. In addition to the black tie gathering of music lovers and the seated dinner glamorized by Todd’s decor, he reminded them that the concert would bring together two living legends — DSO Maestro Jaap van Zweden and violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
As for the decorations, can’t give details or show photos because that would take the OMG factor out of the discovery that night. But think gold, white and very high tech showcasing. Suggestion: find something to wear that goes with gold that night. Oh, but everything does, don’t you know?