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B rilliant Lecture Series, in conjunction with Tenenbaum & Co. Classic Jewelers, kicked off the year with a trio of fabled performers. First up was a concert by Broadway performer, Theater Hall of Famer and native Texan Betty Buckley. Known as "The Voice of Broadway," she played Grizabella in the original Broadway production of Cats, for which she won a Tony Award. She revisited the role when she took to the Wortham Theater Center stage, belting a rendition of the song "Memory" that brought the audience to their feet. Awed attendees: Tenenbaum & Co. owners Kevin Black and Tony Bradfield, Brilliant Lecture Series' Scott Brogan, John Wren, Becky Davis, Jerry Ann and Victor Costa, Carol and Dan Goforth, Rudy Hernandez, and Monica Ward. Houstonians braved the wintry weather to get up close and personal with a living legend, actor Robert Duvall. He sat down with interviewer Shelby Hodge to speak about his storied career, including his award-winning roles in Tender Mercies and Lonesome Dove. Star-struck: Carrie and Richard Leader, Erin Atkinson, and Lydia Baehr. Last but not least came iconic actress Diane Keaton. Like Duvall's, Keaton's résumé is packed with awards, including an Oscar for her title-character role in Annie Hall. Scott Brogan conducted the evening's conversation, where an animated Keaton discussed her acting experiences and life in general, touching on sitting for Irving Penn for Vogue as well as her passion for remodeling houses. Keaton finished the evening with a tender rendition of a torch song. Playing along: Bob Devlin, Roz and Alan Pactor, and Karen and Jonathan Finger. Erin Oppenheim Brilliant Lecture Series hosts iconoclastic exchanges. PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS BROWN, EMILE BROWNE APRIL | PAGE 14 | 2014 Affairs to remember Lydia Baehr at Buckley Pamela Brylski at Buckley John Heinzerling at Buckley Jerry Ann Costa at Buckley Jenna Kearney at Buckley John Benzer at Buckley Shelby Hodge at Duvall Vivi O'Sullivan at Duvall Michael Merritt at Keaton Bob Devlin at Keaton Scott Brogan onstage with Diane Keaton Tony Bradfield at Keaton Kevin Black at Keaton Diane Keaton Jared Kearney at Duvall Jose Montalvo at Duvall Robert Duvall Betty Buckley Ciro Flores Victor Costa Christina Stith Kim Tenenbaum Charlene Simmons Richard Fluhr Rudy Hernandez Paul Hope Kim Montalvo Ashley Kearney Alana St. Aude Daniel West F or those who love the outdoors, weather is a non-issue. Thus, it comes as no surprise that on the night of the kickoff for the 20th annual Root Ball — hosted in the Houston outpost of incomparable East Coast retailer J. McLaughlin in the River Oaks Shopping Center — a touch of rain and chill was no deterrent to the wearing o' the pink and green, the madras and plaid. Welcoming the steadfast ensemble were Root Ball chairmen Renee Lewis Cary, Susanna Moldawer and Laurie Allen, all attired in outfits from the store; this very much pleased Jack Lynch, who heads up business development for the company and was in from New York for the occasion. With a percentage of the night's proceeds going to Trees for Houston, supportive friends with husbands in tow materialized and shopped. And shopped. And shopped … I thoroughly enjoyed watching wives select swimming trunks and linen button-downs for spouses who feigned indifference. Amused and enthused: Randy Allen, John Cary, Palmer Moldawer, Jim Flores, Greg Fourticq Jr., Sara Dodd with son George, Robin Wombwell, store manager Jana Houston, Graham McKernan, Allison and Dan Parsley, Gretchen and Andrew McFarland, Paula and John Cutler, Jessica Keener, Gabriela Gerhart, Lisanne Rogers, Laura and Bentley Fondren, and Ronda Ross. Seth Vaughan PREPPY ROOTS Old School Personifications at J. McLaughlin for Root Ball Kickoff benefitting Trees For Houston PHOTOGRAPHY SETH VAUGHAN BACK TO THEIR Gabriela Gerhart Randy Allen Palmer Moldawer Sissy Roberts Stephanie Arnold Ronda Ross Bently Fondren Greg Fourticq Jr. Gretchen McFarland Chairman Laurie Allen Chairman Renee Lewis Andrew McFarland Chairman Susanna Moldawer Jim Flores John Cary Jack Lynch Window shopping for the Trees. Jana Houston Laura Fondren Graham McKaernam Allison Parsley Dan Parsley George Dodd Sara Dodd Madeleine Rogers Lisanne Rogers