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AT&T Gala Brings Back the Beauty of Black Tie Events

No one has escaped the past year’s economic avalanche. Budgets have been tightened, resumes have been produced at warp speed, and some past necessities have become today’s luxuries. That said, Dallas managed to put on its best duds last night to show respect and excitement for the long-anticipated opening of the AT&T Performing Arts Center. For one brief night, guilt for indulgence, luxury, splendor, and opulence was oh-so-acceptable.

While others will review the Texas-sized earring (aka chandelier) rising to the ceiling and the Broadway babes’ performances on the Shannon and Ted Skokos stage of the Winspear Opera House, let’s focus our attention on the cast that filled the individually air-conditioned seats and the activities that kept them occupied.

THE ARRIVAL: As guests dropped off their vehicles at the valet, they walked by the grand old lady of the Arts District, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Nobody was at home, but she was still all lit up as if to honor her newest neighbors, the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House and the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. Throughout the evening, diva Mother Nature was on her very best behavior, sorta. (After the concert, she decided to create a slight chill to the scene, but then she knew some of the ladies wanted an excuse to bring out their politically-challenged fur pieces.)

Staff members welcomed the very black-tied set to a red carpet leading to the Winspear. You know formal wear just begs for a red carpet.

THE RECEPTION: Once inside the C. Vincent Prothro Lobby, it did get a little cozy with the sweeping gowns, but the champagne helped ease the squeeze. Tamara Johnson with her long blonde ponytail, black, short evening gown by Oscar de la Renta and four-inch heels (loved the red soles) admitted that her black-and-white, look-alike Judith Leiber purse actually came from Sam Moon’s. Well, smart gals know how and where to shop.

Then, like good children, patrons moved to their seats within the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall. Charles Wyly with his “child bride” of 54 years, Dee, walked up to the box level. Dee was wearing a “four- or five-year old Oscar de la Renta.” She admitted that she had considered other and newer frocks, but then laughed that after building the Wyly, she wanted to cut down on spending.

When asked what he thought about the new Wyly Theatre, Charles smiled like a proud papa: “It exceeds all expectations. It’s so futuristic and flexible.”

PRE-PERFORMANCE: Opera-loving John Gallant and wife Denise Dittmer, along with hundreds of others, settled back in their comfy chairs for a night of Broadway. John did admit he was surprised that the program had absolutely everything in it, except for a listing of the tunes to be performed. Guess the producer wanted to surprise all of us. Of course, there was the admonishment about no photos being taken and cellphones being turned off. Did they really think this crowd needed that warning? Oh, please, we’re not at the movies. Oops, don’t tell anyone, but a couple of the patrons slipped drinks in. That’s so no-no. They’ll have to stay after school.

INTRODUCTIONS: Board Chairman Howard Halam welcomed the group. He was followed by the evening’s Chair Jeanne Marie Clossey (pictured), clad in a royal blue (pictured) Oscar de la Renta (trust me—this was brand, spanking new) with a diamond choker. (Did Oscar offer a discount for ACT III frocks? Hopefully, somebody hit Oscar up for a donation.) With her freckles and blonde hair Jeanne Marie looked like Doris Day’s granddaughter or Kristen Chenoweth’s sister.

PERFORMANCE: Speaking of Kristen, you’ve probably already heard that this gal from Oklahoma knew how to make a great first impression by entering the stage in a UT jersey due to the loss of a bet. At one point, she finally took the shirt off to reveal a beautiful pink short dress that set off her “I hate her” figure and rhinestone slippers that sparkled all the way to the Dress Circle. One person was heard to wonder, “Do you think she did that because of the Komen?” Who knows, but it didn’t matter. She had already scored with the crowd.

As we said, others will critique George Hearn’s telegraphed-in performance, the whirling dervish Kiril Kulish, and Patti “Diva with a Heart of Gold” LuPone.  The audience was eager to reward with applause and bravos. Perhaps they were just plain thrilled that you could actually hear the performances and see the performers from any seat in the house. Suggestion to the Dress Circle crowd: bring binoculars!

Note to the Summer Musicals and Majestic: The Winspear is no longer the TWIT (Trophy Wife In Training). She’s here to stay and to elevate the sounds of music to an all-time high.

POST-PERFORMANCE: Following a SO from the audience and no curtain calls, the guests broke into two groups. Shall we call them the “Swells” and the “Fun Folks”? Well, the Swells adjourned to the second-level private dining area for a seated dinner. The guards, or rather, the hosts did everything but a body search before letting patrons in. The ones who passed inspection included Diane and Hal Brierley (Wyly esplanade is named after them), Linda and Bill Custard, Ken and Ruth Altshuler, Cindy Rachofsky (pictured) in a hot pink top with feathered skirt with best bud Marguerite Hoffman, Nancy Hamon, Caren Prothro, Nancy Dedman, Tincy and Vance Miller with Patsy Donosky, and Mayor Tom “Terrific” Leppert. Jeanne Marie swept in to hugs and air kisses.

The wildest activity in this group was the checking of Blackberries. Could they have been looking  for the SMU/Navy score throughout the multi-course dinner? Those overtime games can drive you nuts even at a formal dinner.

On the other hand, the Fun Folks were in store for an evening of a different type. The first sign was Neiman’s Sandy “Event Empress” Marple walking through the Winspear and pointing toward Flora–“Wait til you see what’s over there.” When it comes to knowing where things are happening, Sandy is the best bird dog this side of hunting season.

Because Mother Nature had decided to be prickly, the temperature outside had dropped a bit, so it was the perfect excuse for politically-challenged furs to come out and to showcase the veteran planners preparations—heating lamps throughout the area.

First stop for the FF’s was the it-goes-on-forever tent with a cornucopia of foods from the Ritz that boggled the mind and killed the best diets. NM maestro-of-what’s-in-and-out Ken Downing (pictured) with a new hairdo and the skinniest trousers this side of anorexia seemed as relaxed as the most comfortable guest. He should. He orchestrates these things in his sleep.

Speaking of male fashion, there was one fella (pictured) who forgot to wear his sock and his pants looked more like ankle waders. Oh, what’s that you say? That’s the hot trend. Think it needs to be reconsidered and let the hems out.

Thank heaven the ladies were on their best behavior and not all were wearing Oscar.  It’s so nice to see ballgowns out in full force (pictured). Short skirts are great, but there’s just something so darn elegant about the way a full-length gown flows.

Jeremy Halbreich and wife Nancy were acting like kids on a date. He’s been commuting between Dallas and Chicago since February when he became CEO/chairman of the Sun-Times Media Group, as in Chicago Sun-Times. When asked how things were going, he smiled and said, “We’ve managed to save a number of jobs and I think we’re doing a good job.” Nancy, on the other hand, said that she was going to stay put in Dallas to head up the “I Stand for Parkland Campaign.” Besides, our Nancy is a smart gal and knows how cold that wind can be coming off of Lake Michigan.

Another couple appearing to all the world as if they were just dating were Spencer de Grey and his wife Lucy. You know Spencer was the chief designer of the Winspear, which meant that he and Lucy were doing a commuter marriage, too. Spencer admitted that even he was amazed at the ability of the construction team to complete the building on time. “Just two months ago it was just a building under construction and now. . . !”

Then rumors started floating about the action at the Wyly. It had been turned into Club Alon with Ellis Hall, Eden Espinosa, and Mindi Abair (pictured), whose sax was as hot as her sequined dress. Between Mindi tonight and David Sanborn Friday, we’ve heard more sax than our days in the high school band.

Those who had toured the Wyly and attended talks there in past days were shocked (and they shouldn’t have been if they’d been listening to experts talk about the versatility of the Wyly) to find the place all on one level with a stage for the performers. The joint was jammed with both the Swells and the Fun Folks, but the dancing got off to a slow start. After all, when you’re in such a drop-dead gorgeous crowd, the main activity is people watching.

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW: As the guests toddled home with commemorative paperweights and goodies, hopefully they read the last note in the program from Board of Directors Chair Halam and President/CEO Mark Nernhausen.

“Thank you also for your support of tonight’s ACT III Gala. The funds generated by tonight’s event have underwritten our free-to-the-public Spotlight Sunday Grand Opening celebration this Sunday, October 18^th at the Center.”

Translation:  Because the Swells and the Fun Folks paid hefty sums to party Saturday night, a wide array of famed entertainers and family-friendly programs were to be available at Dallas’ newest hot spots to all for absolutely nothing today.

Now that’s sweeter than a piece of chocolate on your pillow.