1. You can’t be afraid of heights.
2. You’ve got to be a guy. Now, ladies, don’t get all huffy. There’s a reason that even NOW would understand.

Here’s the scenario: The Dallas Opera is looking for some stout-hearted men for its upcoming world premiere of Moby-Dick. According to Dallas Opera’s Suzanne “The Voice” Calvin:

“We need men with a slim to medium build, ages 16 and up who are able and willing to climb a truss up to 30 feet in the air without hesitation.  They should have absolutely no fear of heights. No previous opera/theatre experience necessary.

“As the supernumeraries or ‘supers’ (non-speaking, non-singing extras) you would add height to the workings of the ship by appearing in the crow’s nest and other various parts of the ship above the rest of the “Ship’s Crew” throughout the show.”

Ladies, you’ve probably calmed down by now knowing that there weren’t any women on whaling ships in the 1850′s and besides what woman would be crazy enough to climb up in the crow’s nest?

The open casting call  (“just bring yourself, no equipment necessary”) is Tuesday, March 16, between 7:00 and 8:30 p.m. at the Karayanis Rehearsal Production Center, 4301 S. Fitzhugh. That’s on the edge of Fair Park off of Gaisford Street. Please park at the back of the building and enter through the back door.

But the night before, the annual dinner was held for the major donors (think annual gifts of $10,000 and up), who have been so instrumental in coordinating and raising the funding for such seasons. The group dined on Ted and Shannon Skokos Stage at the Winspear thanks to the Dallas Opera and Northern Trust. With tables situated on the Monte Carlo set of Cosi fan tutte, even the Garden Gate’s centerpieces alone were good enough to eat.

Guests included Shanee and Steve Birch (pictured), Margaret McDermott, Caroline Rose Hunt, Arlene and John Dayton, Carol and Bruce Calder, Joyce and Harvey Mitchell, Holly and Tom Mayer, Mary Beth and Jay Marshall, and Ellen and Don Winspear (pictured left with Marianne and Steve Lagerstrom).

To top off the evening, Sir Thomas Allen (he is Don Alfonso in Cosi) sang a Cole Porter “ditty.” Needless to say, the crowd was charmed. Nuccia Focile (she plays Despina in Cosi) sang a selection from West Side Story. Other performers who entertained the crowd included Nathan Gunn, Donato DiStefano, Jennifer Holloway, Michael Todd Simpson, Brian Anderson, and Norman Shankle.

It was an opera lover’s night of wonderful.

Photo provided by the Women's Board of The Dallas Opera

We have now moved into the next generation of leaders for the opera. These are the people who took the dreams of their predecessors and turned them into reality. Need an example? Drive on over to the Winspear Opera House.

While there are individuals who have been part of the driving force for the opera’s growth, it’s become a true passion for certain couples. With as much concern as parents of a child, they have nurtured the opera to its present position. One of those couple is Marnie and Kern Wildenthal. They have used their individual strengths to help so many organizations in our community. For instance,

• Kern is currently the president of the Dallas Opera as well as a founding board member of the AT&T Performing Arts Center. He has  served on the boards of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Citizens Council, Dallas Assembly, The Science Place, Dallas Symphony and Dallas Museum of Art,  Dr. Wildenthal was President of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas from 1986-2008, and in September of 2008 was appointed President of Southwestern Medical Foundation. He received the TACA Silver Cup Award for Volunteer Leadership in the Arts.
• Marnie was a teacher at the Episcopal School of Dallas for 30 years before retiring in 2008.  She has served on numerous boards including the Mental Health Association, Vickery Meadow Learning Center, Highland Park Education Foundation, Uplift Education, Chiapas Project, Shelton School, and Friends of WRR. She was elected Chairman of TACA in 2005 and she was President of Charter 100 in 2006-2007.  She was also docent chairman for Dallas Opera Guild.
• Together, the Wildenthals received the Virginia Chandler Dykes Award for Public Service.

With all of these accomplishments in mind, the Women’s Board of The Dallas Opera will honor Marnie and Kern at the 19th annual Henry S. Miller Jr. Founders’ Award luncheon on Wednesday, February 17, in the Main Ballroom of the Rosewood Crescent Hotel. Jolie Humphrey and Sarah Seddelmeyer are the event chairs, so you know that it will an exceptional occasion.

A well-deserved bravo to the Wildenthals!

After the champagne reception, the fabulous 500 made their way into the theatre. With a handful of musicians on stage including Voigt’s fav piano man Ted Sperling, the guest settled back awaiting the lady’s grand entrance. Surprise! That Deborah gal knows how to make an entrance. With a voice singing up to the chandelier, she caught the group off-guard by entering from the back of the theatre. The audience immediately recognized that they weren’t dealing with a stuffy diva. No, she may be an international opera queen, but Saturday night she was an adorable blonde with the world’s highest cheekbones, bluest eyes, and a kittenish personality that would have made the late Beverly “Bubbles” Sills seem boring. Let’s face it–anyone whose first spoken words of the night are, “This (the Winspear) is spectacular!” is going to hit a home run immediately with the home crowd. Why she even had her father, nieces, and nephews in the audience.By the end of the evening, all 500 were family.

With an array of Broadway tunes including everything from Sondheim’s Losing My Mind to Showboat’s Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man, Deborah had the audience with her. The knockout punch of the evening that sent the crowd into an applause frenzy was I Could Have Danced All Night. If it had been possible, the crowd would have been waltzing in the aisles. Her partnering up with Ted to do a couple of ditties like Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano, only sealed the deal. Then it was over all too soon and time for dinner.

Photo by RUDA Photography

Photo by RUDA Photography

Guests were then invited to come on stage for dinner as the curtain was raised, revealing the most dazzling dining arrangement this side of Fort Knox (pictured).   

And speaking of dazzling,  you just have to admit there’s just something about the opera lovers. Ah, such fashion eye candy.

Of course, the men looked quite fabby. But it’s hard to look bad in a traditional tuxedo. But leave it to cute Steve “Showstopper” Kemble (pictured) to break from the black formalwear look. This proud peacock in his Dolce & Gabbana jacket had just learned that he’ll be working the red carpet for ABC at the AMA Awards on November 22.

But face it, fellows, Saturday night belong to the ladies.

Shannon “Spectacular” Skokos’s (pictured) Escada brown, one-shoulder form fitting tunic nearly stopped all traffic into the Winspear. . .  Buffy Cornell (pictured) in a fabulous black Loro Piana gown topped off with a fur wrap collar was joined by Robert Kingin from New York; Swiss/Dallasite Marion Rothstein broke from the long skit and wore a short black Orrier with huge black satin blossoms; Carmen Glenn’s (pictured) very simple, classic black gown begged for break-the-bank jewelry and she didn’t fail to deliver.

Let’s just be plain superficial and admit it–there’s nothing as graceful as a gown that barely touches the toes of the slipper, a billowing ball gown, or a train trailing in regal form. It just breaks your heart to think some of these babies have been hanging in closets. They should be treated like works of art–framed and hung. However, Saturday night they were out and about with accessories to make a couture sales associate’s heart flutter.

Thank you, Dallas Opera, for giving the gowns their night in the moonlight and on stage at the Winspear. Bravo!

“Lights! Camera! Action Gala” benefiting Bea’s Kids (6:30 p.m. at the Addison Conference Center) — The  dinner and silent/live auctions will provide education and personal development programs for children from low-income families so they will stay in school and break the cycle of poverty. Sponsors include 98.7 KLUV, American Airlines, and Coca-Cola. (cocktail attire)

“The BeatLeukemia Ball” benefiting Cheers for Charity (6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole)  – Featuring The Fab Four and Children’s Chorus of Grater Dallas, Lindalyn Adams is honorary chair and Cynthia and Brice Beaird are ball chairs. All proceeds remain in Texas to sustain the Research and Patient Aid programs of Leukemia Texas. Presenting sponsor is RSM McGladney. (black tie)

“Gift of Life Gala” benefiting the National Kidney Foundation Serving North Texas (7 p.m. at Northwood Club) — The dinner, live auction, awards presentation, and dancing are taking place to celebrate the 45th anniversary of transplantation in Texas by Dr. Paul Peters. Dr. Goran Klintmalm (Baylor University Medical Center), Dr. Richard Dickerman (Methodist Dallas Medical Center & Medical City Dallas Hospital), and Dr. Arthur Sagalowsky (UT Southwestern Medical Center will receive the “Paul Peters Award for Clinical Excellence.” The following will receive the “Gift of Life Award:” Christine Brauss (transplant recipient), Fred Martin (kidney donor), Patricia Martin (kidney donor) and Lauren Lupher (organ donor, and her parents Linda and Gary Lupher). (cocktail attire)

“One Night Only. . . The Star Room“ benefiting Star Children’s Charity (the Embassy Suites Hotel Frisco) — Chaired by Heather Herndon-Wright, a sleek interpretation of a 1940′s New York supper club will take place complete with big band  (Ricki Derek and his Big Band), dinner, dancing, open bar, Mystery Box Raffle from Neiman Marcus, and a “celebrity-studded live auction with MC Natalie Woods (host of Hot On! Homes) and auctioneer Mike Jones. (black tie optional)

“OVATION” benefiting the Dallas Opera (6:30 p.m. at the Winspear Opera House) — World-famous soprano Deborah Voight will perform for 500 guests who will enjoy a dinner afterwards. (black tie)

See, we told you — no excuse to be home tonight!

Bravo, TxDOT and the infamous people-behind-the-scenes who made this happen!