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HOUSTON – April 9, 2014 – Society for the
Performing Arts (SPA), Houston’s leading performing arts
presenter, held its 2014 gala, Saturday, March 29, in the
Grand Foyer of the Wortham Theater Center. With more than
350 guests in attendance, the event was a roaring success
raising nearly $500,000 under the leadership of chairs
Elizabeth and Tim Vail, along with this year’s honorary
chairs Rosemary Schatzman and Vanessa Sendukas.
Themed Forever Paris, the Grand
Foyer was transformed into a post-World War I carefree
Paris, reflective of the 1920s through the 1930s, when
American musicians, authors, artists and socialites
converged in the French capital city and the popularity of
jazz exploded. This year’s gala honored longtime SPA board
member Karl Kilian for his many years of dedicated
service to the organization.
The evening began with cocktails and
champagne, followed by a feast for the senses with fabulous
French fare created by Jackson and Company. Throughout the
evening, New York-based band The Hot Sardines filled
the room with its jazz sound fitting of the era. Rebekah
Johnson of Bergner & Johnson created a stunning atmosphere
with beautiful crystal chandeliers suspending from the
ceiling, massive floral arrangements scattered throughout
the room and a large print of the Eiffel tower in the
background to create an authentic Parisian atmosphere.
Following dinner, SPA’s live auction gave
guests the opportunity to bid on sought-after items such as
luxury travel from sea to shining sea and shimmering jewels.
To end the evening, guests danced the night away to tunes
spun by DJ Sun. Spotted in the
crowd were Melanie Gray, Chree Boydstun, CEO June
Christensen and husband Steve, Doreen and Victor Bhatt,
Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Ginni and Richard Mithoff, Margaret
Alkek Williams, Beverly and Jim Postl, Liz and Tom Glanville
and Linda and Willie Chiang.
The proceeds from the gala will provide the
necessary funds needed for SPA’s Education and Community
Engagement Program that takes the performing arts into the
community, and offers unique learning experiences and
enrichment of more than 120,000 underserved children and
adolescents in the greater Houston area annually. |