The clouds above were looking like bruised cauliflower on the evening of Friday, June 3. Outside Stanley Korshak, the valet check-in looked more like an afternoon school pick-up lane with valets apologizing for the delay. Across the street, the bulldozers were crunching down Old Warsaw.
But inside Korshak, the 2016 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League debs were dress-rehearsing upstairs in the women’s salon, as family and friends (Laura and Jason Downing, Simona Beal, Nancy Labadie, Lisa Laughlin, Dixie Marshall, John Cooper and Kendra and Mark Averitt), gathered with champagne flutes in hand, getting to know each other.
Instead of Neiman Marcus Downtown, where the announcement of debs has taken place in recent years, the event had returned to Korshak after 25 years on Korshak’s 30th anniversary. Thanks to the chilled drinks, the warmish temperatures were staved off. As one vet explained to a newcomer, “Nothing new. Once the overhead lights are turned up, the heat hits.”
With guests taking their seats on either side of the Korshak runway, the program got underway. DSOL Deb Chair Chair Jolie Humphrey looked downright giddy telling the crowd that the theme for the Saturday, February 18th white/black-tie presentation at the Meyerson would be Art Nouveau. Following DSOL Deb Presentation Founder Tincy Miller‘s recalling the origins of the major fundraiser for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Assembly and Honor Guard were presented.
Then the part of the evening that all had been waiting for started — the announcement presentation of the 2017 frosh class. Alas, a couple of the debs, it seems, had sent word that they would be no-shows. Yes, the debs-to-come were represented beautifully by those on the scene, with white roses and peacock feathers in hand. But they were disappointed that some had been called away to internships and holidays.
Only problem? Word of a couple of the MIAs hadn’t made it into the script, creating an “Oops” moment or two. But ever-cool DSOL Deb Presentation Announcer Stan Garner championed on without more than a moment or two of pause. Escorted halfway down the aisle by members of the Honor Guard, the debs included Layne Anderson, Gracie Beal, Evan Blanton, Lilli Boren, Olivia Burnett, McKenna Cook, Alicia Crenshaw, Caroline Downing, Marina Frattaroli, Heather Hall, Madeline Hendrick, Ellie Kind, Abby Loncar, Ashlyn Matthews, Juliana McIlveene, Natalie Monger, Aspen Moraif, Allison Rogers, Betsy Smith, Mary Stillman, Bailey Turfitt, Georgia Tyler, Emily Vaughan and Isabel Yoder.
As the gals finished their walk down the aisle solo, two or three DSOL-ers were standing behind the seated crowd looking like traffic cops pointing them to the hallway leading backstage.
After the right-official presentation, the gals joined their parents in partying a tad bit more. On the other hand, others guests waiting for the checkout at the valet chatted it up. Stan was the first to hit the line, preparing to pedal it to Southlake to join up with his wife Sara Lee Garner for a rehearsal dinner.
For a look at all the 2017 debs on the scene, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.
Deborah Brown says
Thank you, Jeanne, for this incredible coverage!