Yes, the valet ballet is underway. Philanthropists, fundraisers and plain generous folks are bumping into each other as they travel from one event to another. Tuesday, September 1, provided such run-ins as:
WaterTower Theatre President’s Circle Reception
A cocktail reception was being held north of LBJ for WaterTower Theatre’s President’s Circle at Barbara and Don Daseke’s teak home with The Joule serving up the most delicious vittles for more than 30 guests like Wade Owens of Regions Bank, Lisa Clawson of Happy State Bank and Hollis Ard of American Bank of Commerce.
While some guests toured the house, old timers checked out the scrapbook of the Dasekes’ trip to South Africa last year with the Dallas Zoo. Speaking of the zoo, Barbara is hosting the 2015 Zoo To Do patron party and it should be a must-attend. Plans call for the Daseke pool to be drained and filled with natural water (i.e. no chlorine), so the penguin ambassadors can have a splash. Word has it that cheetah Winspear and his companion Lab Kamau will be onsite, but not at the same time as the penguins.
Margo Keyes revealed that thanks to husband Jim Keyes’ position as CEO of Fresh And Easy in Torrance, California, they were doing the commuter cha-cha between Dallas and Redondo Beach…Barbara Bigham was all smiles telling friends that she is still cancer-free after a real “tussle” with the disease just a year or so ago.
But the purpose of the evening was to celebrate WaterTower Theatre’s President’s Circle that is made up of folks who commit to a minimum of $1K a year for a minimum of three years.
Don welcomed the guests and told them to “Feel free to walk around the house. Just don’t open the closet doors. Our cat is in hiding.”
As President’s Circle Co-Chair Stan Graner put it to the President’s Club members and potential members, “We welcome all tonight. But the next time it will be members-only.”
As “Creep” creator Donald Fowler watched from the sidelines, WaterTower Theatre Director Terry Martin did a brief report on WaterTower plans including the 2016-2017 season marking the group’s 20th anniversary with Barbara Daseke chairing the anniversary gala on April 9.
As for the world premiere of “Creep,” Terry reminded guests that it will open on Sunday, October 4, with a cast of 18 and ten in the orchestra. It’s hard to imagine that the first read was on WaterTower’s stage way back in 2010.
But for this evening, Terry admitted that despite many of “Creep’s” cast being in other parts of the country performing, they had managed to have “Creep” cast members Calvin Scott Roberts and Kathryn Taylor Rose perform “A Boy With Dreams” and “I Think That He Loves Me,” respectively. The twosome will also be singing at WaterTower’s Community Cast Party on Saturday, September 12. On hand to serve up the food and beverages for the night will be Table 13, The Egg and I Restaurant, Dough Bro’s, Union Park Restaurant, Suga’s Cakery, Outback, D’Sweets, Carrabba’s Italian Villa, Puerta Vallarta, Lakewood Brewery and Goody Goody Liquor. Steering committee Co-Chairs April Bosworth, Stan Graner, Corky Pledger and Debbie Staggs have arranged to have Frost Bank sponsor the party.
Texas Trailblazer Award Luncheon Committee Happy Hour
Carol Seay hit the door as soon as it opened on the second floor of Mesero on Henderson. She was there to support The Family Place’s Texas Trailblazer Award Luncheon fundraiser on Thursday, October 1, at the Hilton Anatole. On her way out, she ran into tall drink of blonde water Stephanie Hollman, who had co-chaired last year’s Texas Trailblazer Award luncheon with Carol’s daughter-in-law Stephanie Seay. Carol was in a rush because she had to meet Toni Pickens for dinner at Hillside.
Inside the dining room, Luncheon Co-Chairs Michaela Dyer and Layne Pitzer were welcoming the 25 to 30 guests. Over at a table along the wall, Texas Trailblazers emcee Gloria Campos sporting a new haircut was seated with her son/musician Ditch Prince, who has a “record” out called “Knife.” After living in Philadelphia, Ditch was back residing in Dallas.
As The Family Place’s Paige Flink arrived, she was followed by Lynn McBee, who had still another event to attend.
The luncheon will have keynote speaker Marisa Tomei, and Nancy Nasher and Robert “Bob” Miller receiving the Texas Trailblazer and Real-Life Hero awards, respectively.
If you’re wondering what Marisa has to say in connection with The Family Place’s mission to assist those overcoming domestic abuse, you need to dig deeper into Marisa’s projects. The Academy Award winner “traveled to Ethiopia to direct a short film based on the book ‘Half the Sky’ by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. The film, which was also her directorial debut, focuses on a 13-year-old girl’s struggle with the institutionalized oppression of women in Ethiopia.”
Yup, the comings and goings are underway. Warm up your engines.