Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/488929
ANNE LEE PHILLIPS REPORTS FROM THE BALCONY. PHOTOGRAPHY FULTON DAVENPORT. I DREAMT A DREAM OF A Masked Ball D ozens of crystal chandeliers, intricate custom-made masks from the likes of Hermès and David Peck, stunning gowns, exquisite jewels fresh from the vaults, and world-class art: It was a masquerade fit for the house of Capulet at the Houston Ballet Ball. Chair quartet Melissa and Michael Mithoff and Henry Richardson and Monsour Taghdisi tapped The Events Company to transform the Wortham Theater's Grand Foyer for The Masked Ball: a Tribute to Romeo and Juliet (the production, a fresh take on the classic, premiered the following week); tables were set with mirrors, opulent candelabra and floating candles in lieu of flowers. Guests bid on magnificent jewels from Tenenbaum & Co. — the exclusive jewelry underwriter, who came in to the tune of six figures — and important contemporary art curated by gallerist doyenne Barbara Davis. (We noticed a few patrons standing guard in front of their favorite pieces.) Becca Cason Thrash, delightfully moonlighting as auctioneer, sold a stunning sapphire and diamond necklace from Tenenbaum and a week-long stay at honorees Phoebe and Bobby Tudor's Nantucket abode that actually went twice; one of the lucky bidders was chair couple Melissa and Michael). In a tribute to the Tudors, Houston Ballet Academy students and Company members did a pas marché onto the dance floor for a special performance, as the 450 patrons dined on gulf lump crabmeat parfait and classic beef short ribs finished with tiramisu topped with a mask-shaped chocolate from Jackson and Company. A massive LED screen in a gilded frame projected live images from the dance floor, which was packed thanks to band Party on the Moon, in from Atlanta for the evening and underwritten by Diane Lokey Farb. The evening raised an impressive $1.22 million — the second highest amount ever raised at the event. The glamourati: Houston Ballet executive director Jim Nelson with Richard Lapin; Academy director Shelly Power with husband Marty; international artist from New York and Venice and auction donor Andrea Bianconi, whose piece Space Time 2 went to Jonathon Glus and Alton LaDay; mega-collectors Leigh and Reggie Smith, who nabbed the Danny Rolph piece; Soraya and Scott McClelland; Monica and John Blaisdell; Lucinda and Javier Loya, in custom Hermès masks; Erin Stewart; Joanne King Herring; Martha and Richard Finger; and Tenenbaum & Co. gents Tony Bradfield and Kevin Black. APRIL | PAGE 10 | 2015 Barbara Davis Steve Wyatt Joyce Echols Andrea Bianconi Harry Tudor Margaret Williams Soo Youn Cho Erin Marquez Heidi Smith Kristy Bradshaw Connor Walsh Kevin Black Lynn Wyatt Tony Bradfield Rachel Regan Christina Stith Y. Ping Sun Jonathon Glus Alton LaDay Jackson Hicks Jacqueline Kinloch Jerry Ann Costa Victor Costa Monica Blaisdell Kelly Myernick Linda McReynolds Pat Breen Ceron Caroline Tudor Honoree Phoebe Tudor Honoree Bobby Tudor Mark Sullivan Richard Flowers Diane Lokey Farb Co-chair Henry Richardson Co-chair Monsour Taghdisi Co-chair Melissa Mithoff Co-chair Michael Mithoff Trumpeters performing Jana Arnoldy Scott Arnoldy Leigh Smith Macarons from Tenenbaum & Co. Reggie Smith Stanton Welch Harper Watters Annie Amante