Multi-Talented Justin Guarini Is Returning To Dallas For Dallas Theater Center’s Centerstage, But It Ain’t Gonna Be At The Wyly

It’s been 14 years since a curly-haired, 23-year-old cutie by the name of Justin Guarini charmed the nation on the very first American Idols.  Even tough guy Simon Cowell was impressed with him, saying, “Justin, you know, occasionally you’re very privileged when you do a competition like this to hear somebody undiscovered who has a voice like yours.”

Holy cow! Frame those words! Still, Justin came in second place to Kelly Clarkson in September 2002. But unlike many runners-up, Justin didn’t disappear into oblivion nor did he become tabloid fodder. He continued singing, produced albums, appeared in Broadway productions and even had time to marry Reina Capodici in September 2009 and have three kids.

This past summer Justin won so many fans in the Dallas Theater Center’s production of “Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical,” that Centerstage Chair Ann Mahowarld and Co-Chair Melinda Johnson managed to get him to return for the DTC annual fundraiser on Saturday, May 14. He’s even bringing his band with him and he swears, “It’s going to be an awesome night.”

Whoa! Before you start envisioning Justin back in the Wyly, stop. He ain’t gonna be there. Hello? Where is this going? It’s a change of venue.

This year Ann and Melinda have moved the cocktail reception, the seated dinner, the performance and the after-party with DJ Lucy Wrubel across the street to the Winspear. And don’t go a-thinking that this is going to be a crowd of thousands. Nope. It’s going to be just 300 guests. Translation: no elbow-to-elbow crowd, no shuffling through the herd, no jammed-up concert hall. It’s going to be an intimate evening of you, Justin and a few other buds.

And the reason for the move? It’s simple. The production of “Deferred Action” is underway at the Wyly.

Suggestion on the attire: Creativity and festivity will be pluses, so the stuffy duds can have the night off.

How about a hand for the folks and companies that are helping make this event possible? Just follow the jump and you’ll see just some of ’em:

* Photo credit: Kevin York Photography

• Dinner Sponsor — Pier 1 Imports
• Valet Sponsor — AlixPartners
• Cocktail Hour Sponsor — Sidley Austin LLP
• Directors’ Table Underwriters — Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Nancy and Clint Carlson, Claudia and Scott Davis, Deedie Rose, Shannon and Ted Skokos Foundation and Donna M. Wilhelm
• Cast Underwriters — Rebecca and Barron Fletcher, Julie and Ken Hersh, Melinda and Jim Johnson, The M.O.B. Family Foundation, Catherine and Will Rose and TurningPoint Foundation
• Troupe Underwriters — Lydia Addy and Tricia Miller, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, Ann and Chris Mahowald and Paula and Scott Orr
• Ensemble Underwriters — Randy Brown, Kathy and Harlan Crow, Don Ellwood and Sandra Johnigan, Bess and Ted Enloe, Susie and Curt FitzGerald, Carol and Don Glendenning/ Locke Lord LLP, Ann and Lee Hobson,
  Brett and Lester Levy, Katherine and Bob Penn, Vin and Caron Prothro Foundation, Helen and Frank Risch and Texas Instruments
• Actor Underwriters — Anne and Larry Angelilli, Tina and John Barry, Mickie and Jeff Bragalone, Kay and Elliot Cattarulla, Sara Fraser Crismon, Linda and Bill Custard, Haynes and Boone LLP, Pilar and Jay Henry, John A. Henry III, Jackson Walker LLP, Teresa and Luther King/Luther King Capital Management, Lisa and Peter Kraus, Carol and John Levy, Juli and Larry Mandala, The Ann and Fred Margolin Foundation, Helen K. and Robert G. McGraw, Deborah McMurray and Glen Davison, Teri and John Shaffer, Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, Amy and Leslie Ware, Sarah and Don Warnecke and Sharon and Michael Young