Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/184524
Konnichiha! Ni hao! Marhaba! Presenting the New Asia Society Texas Center Honorary chair Hushang Ansary at Tiger Ball BY ERIN OPPENHEIM. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL, JEFF FANTICH, GARY FOUNTAIN. Honorary chair Shahla Ansary at Tiger Ball I t was a weekend of worldly revelry as Isla Reckling patrons and supporters celebrated the at Tiger Ball opening of the spanking-new Asia Society Texas Center with a three-day affair that launched with the Tiger Ball. Guests Grand Patron Nancy Allen garbed in traditional kimonos and saris sipped, at Tiger Ball perused the art collection and were dazzled by the architectural wonders of Yoshio Taniguchi, who was on hand from Japan to thank patrons for their support. Dancing lions led the group to an outside pavilion, where they famed Iranian singer Shahram Nazeri and The Rumi Ensemble serenaded. Taking it all in: Charles Rockefeller, grandson of Asia Society founder John D. Rockefeller III; board chairman Charles Foster; grand patron Nidhika Mehta at Tiger Ball Nancy Allen; executive director Pershant Mehta Martha Blackwelder; chair at Tiger Ball Margaret Williams; and cochairs Sushila and Durga Agrawal, Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron, and Judy and Scott Nyquist. The following evening belonged to Spotlight Asia, where upand-coming members of Asia Society Young Professionals had their chance to view the stunning architecture. DJ Rocky set the tone with hip-hop beats. Fresh faces: chairmen Divya and Chris Brown, Brittany Sakowitz, Janae and Kenny Tsai, designer Chloe Dao, Linda Wu, Rima Paralkar, and sponsor Charming Charlie's Suchit Majmudar. Rothko, Seeing Red at the Alley Theatre Ball Chloe Dao at Spotlight Asia Suchit Majmudar, Reena Patel at Spotlight Asia Chair Chris Brown at Spotlight Asia Tracy & Valerie Dieterich Brittany Sakowitz at Spotlight Asia Chair Divya Brown at Spotlight Asia James Gietz, Hasti Taghi at Spotlight Asia Charles Rockefeller at Spotlight Asia Lynn Wyatt, Brad Wyatt at Tiger Ball Sapphira Goradia, Vijay Goradia Co-chair Durga Agrawal at Tiger Ball Co-chairs David Leebron & Y. Ping Sun at Tiger Ball T Chair Margaret Williams at Tiger Ball Chinhui Juhn & Eddie Allen at Tiger Ball Yoshio Taniguchi, Charles Foster at Tiger Ball FLUSHED FUND-RAISERS: Brendan Gilbert Jenna Jackson Gilbert Molly Hubbard Connie and Roger Plank Susan and Rob Reedy Jeff Shell Lois and George Stark Patty Hubbard with son Ford Hubbard and wife Molly Nanette and Jerry Finger Kristi and John Schiller Josephine and Phil John Clayton and Sheldon Erikson Ginger and Hugh Menown Jane and Larry Wagner Ford Hubbard BY MATTHEW RAMIREZ. PHOTOGRAPHY WILSON PARISH, PRISCILLA DICKSON. he Corinthian rode a crimson tide when it hosted the Alley Theatre's annual ball, A Touch of Red, named in honor of the Tony Award-winning play Red, which was performed at the Alley this spring. The play told the story of artist Mark Rothko landing his biggest commission: a series of murals for New York's Four Seasons restaurant. Taking Quinn the theme to heart, models in colorfieldHoang inspired body paint were positioned at the top of the stairs between two Rothkoesque paintings. Canvases used onstage in the Alley production flanked the room, filling every window inside The Corinthian as well. Chairmen Cathy and Jesse Marion spared no expense in making the ball a one-of-a-kind dining installation, also underwritten by Beth Madison, Cornelia and Meredith Long, Fayez Sarofim and the John P. McGovern Foundation, all of whom were enthusiastically thanked by Tony-winning Alley artistic director Gregory Boyd and managing director Dean Gladden. Chilled sea bass from Jackson and Company was paired with fine wines donated and specially chosen by Jonathan Horowitz (The Tasting Room, Max's Wine Dive). The Richard Brown Orchestra began the night with jazzy music from the early '60s, when Rothko was at his artistic peak; after dinner, a live auction led by Vikki Vines and a performance by Radio London got the generous crowd on their feet. The ball raised more than $400,000, with the live auction alone grossing a record-breaking $100,000. Co-chairs Judy & Scott Nyquist at Tiger Ball Margaret Williams, Dean Gladden Jonathan Horowitz Nina Delano Gregory Boyd Chairmen Jesse & Cathy Marion George Stark Kathryn & Jim Ketelsen Lois Stark Jana & Scotty Arnoldy OCTOBER | PAGE 30 | 2012 Josephine John, Patty Hubbard, Phil John