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38 SOUL TRAIN THE TEMPTATIONS CLAIM THE STAGE AT THE ALLEY THEATRE BALL. Catherine D. Anspon gets in the groove. Photography Jacob Power, Dave Rossman. W hile last year's Alley Ball was all about "Peace, Love & Rock 'n' Roll," this year's "In the Groove" gala went disco — a nod to the early days of the Alley Theatre's Texas Avenue home, erected in 1968. In addition to some clever cosplay, the evening was headlined by the greatest R&B act of all time: The Temptations. They gave the crowd just what they wanted: a classic set list undiminished by time that included "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Chairs Florence and Tom Langford reigned as disco queen and king at Silver Street Studios, which Richard Flowers' The Events Company transformed into a Motown-fl avored lounge with gold and platinum hits lining the walls. City Kitchen devised the seated dinner as tribute to the '70s: appetizers of cheese fondue, Swedish meatballs, and coconut shrimp, followed by wedge salad, Steak Diane, and chocolate toffee ice box pie. Silent-auction grand getaways were snagged by Tami Kazdal, who won the ultimate African photo safari; Jena Clark, securing the Napa wine tour; and Mike Loya, scoring both the Costa Rica and Belize luxury vacays. After The Temptations' high-voltage performance, DJ Kalkutta took to the turntable, and the crowd danced on. DISCO DARLINGS Alley artistic director Gregory Boyd and managing di rector Dean Gladden; Justice Record Co. CEO Randall Jamail, hon- ored for his generosity underwriting new plays; and Gold Level patrons including the chairs; Margaret Alkek Williams with Jim Daniel; Cynthia and Anthony Petrello; and United Airlines, represented by Brenda Bazan. Also groovin' were Mady and Ken Kades, who made an en- trance in a '57 Cadillac Eldorado bearing a Big Mac license plate (an ode to their McDonald's franchises); Harry Winston salon director Petra Martinez with colleague Demond Monteilh; The Menil Collections' Tommy Napier, escorting Mary Margaret George; BeDesign's Adrian Dueñas and Marcelo Saenz; past gala chairs Brian Teichman and Andrew Cordes in matching tuxes from Dolce & Gabbana; and the chairs' son and daughter-in-law Vivian and Byron Langford, just wed, who rearranged their honeymoon to make this '70s scene. Susan & Rob Reedy Chairs Florence & Tom Langford Brian Teichman & Andrew Cordes Gregory Boyd, honoree Randall Jamail Ronny & Dorothy Cuenod Dean & Jane Gladden Ken Christie Maria Bassa Sarah Morgan Oscar Brown Beth Muecke A disco darling