Raising the Curtain and Care

Show and 'Swell!'

The annual Curtain Call Ball to benefit Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré spotlighted Marilee Hovet and Helen Young in chairing roles, whose predecessors were Anne F. Redd and Judith Y. Oudt. Elizabeth and Edwin Bragg and Dickie Brennan’s Tableau were the 2022 Main State Sponsors. Additional sponsoring strength came from First Horizon, Friend & Company and Diamonds Direct, all three in the Red Carpet category; and, as Backstage, Keil’s Antiques, Elizabeth Locke Jewels, Mrs. H. Mortimer Favrot Jr., Susan and Jimmy Gundlach, John C. Hazard Jr., Erin and JP Hymel, Geraldine Valene, and board of governors chairperson Kathleen and Charlie Van Horn. Further board notables were vice chairpersons Janet Daley Duval and Julie Livaudais George, as well as secretary Kathleen Edmundson. Bob Gettys is the treasurer.

Cocktails, dinner and silent auction were the first evening attractions in Tableau restaurant. All relished passed canapés, oysters on the half shell, pork loin, and shrimp étouffée before moseying into the theater, where LPT producing executive director Don-Scott Cooper extended welcoming words. Gathered were Dale A. Mott (a producer of the Tony-award-winning “A Strange Loop,” currently on Broadway) and Ken Hyle, Brent and Lele Wood, Centrell Alfred-Ewell, Jim Mounger and Tim Ratchford, emcee Mark Romig and David Briggs, and with their above wives, Andrew Hovet, Tim Young and Ted George.

Moments later, Cooper called Marilee and Helen up to the stage, and all three expressed gratitude for the audience’s support. Then, it was no business like the business of show, led off by Anais St. John’s “All That Jazz.” She rocked a silver-sequined mini. In a sophisticated black jumpsuit, the featured entertainer, Emily Skinner — billed as “one of Broadway’s most engaging and versatile performers” — rendered several numbers, including a sultry “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” Pianist Jonathan Fischer accompanied her. The musical performances closed with robust singing from our town’s Keith Claverie, Leslie Claverie, Rachel Looney, Kathleen Moore, and Alicia “Blue Eyes” Renee. Then came an excellent video about the 107-years-old LPT.

Up next was Kathleen Van Horn, whose leadership was praised by Don-Scott Cooper, saying, “You’ve done such great work sustaining this theater.” Auctioneer Mark Romig then stepped forward, but first he acknowledged the liveliness in the balcony. “They’re having a party up there,” he said smiling. More smiles abounded as four fabulous items were auctioned off, raising tens of thousands of dollars. More money was raised for the theater’s various supporting programs, such as those for education and theatrical training.

Back in the Tableau area, dessert and nightcaps beckoned, luring among the “CCB” many, Helaine and Ned Benjamin, Vivian and Gustavo Coutin, Marc Behar and Jeff Sbisa, Jane Scott and Philip Hodges, Patricia “Pat” Denechaud, Ted Martin, Janice Foulks, Elaine and Douglas Grundmeyer, Margaret Maxwell, Patrick McCausland, Brenda and Michael Moffitt, Lynne Neitzschman, Jennifer and John Rareshide, Troy S. Scroggins, Dana and Steve Hansel, Sue Strachan, and, as Young Players mastheaders, co-chairs Mary Beth Benjamin and James Van Horn, attending with Nick Starr. Dozens more rubbed shoulders at the ball, anticipating their imminent presence in the audience when another curtain rises on the 2022-2023 season in the historic playhouse. The show goes on!

Good Taste

A five-course dinner with wine pairings (by NOLA Wine Merchant) was framed as a “small, ticketed charity event” created by James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Devallier at his restaurant, La Petite Grocery, to raise funds and awareness for WRBH Reading Radio. During dinner, guests wear blindfolds, thus removing one sense (sight), while heightening others. By dining blindfolded, attendees gain awareness of what many of the radio station’s listeners experience on a daily basis. The event was titled A Blind Taste.

Upon arrival, the “Taste” throng noticed the flower arrangements and the bright red aprons folded on the backs of the chairs. Hors d’oeuvres were passed before everyone sat for the prandial pleasures of shrimp with curry, Parisian gnocchi, seared duck breast, pan roasted Gulf fish, and a “decadent” dark chocolate paté. Between courses, emcees Angela Hill and Charles Smith (of BSP Law) auctioned off six prize packages, including a TV tour, luxury hotel stays, private tastings, and a porch concert. A Saints package was copped by Paul Leaman Jr. (with Marilyn Dittmann), while Amy Larson was the top bidder for a beach-home vacation donated by Drs. Robert and Lisa Ross.

Participating were WRBH Board of Directors President Sherman Boughton and Jeanne, Matt Berger, Tom Spiers of EyeSouth Partners, Lindsey Wands, Jenni Babineaux of Southern Eye Bank, Geoff and Anne Worden, spouses Drs. Lena Al-Dujaili and Ahmed Mohiuddin, spouses Drs. Zeena Al-Dujaili and Ravi Tandon, and spouses Dr. Maria Reinosa and Alejandro Leon. Also, Dr. Jay LaCour, Drs. Robert and Lisa Ross, Kaye and Jerry Smith, and, from WRBH, executive director Natalia Gonzalez and associate executive director Timothy Vogel.

Angela Hill, as well as others, succinctly summed up the event. “A Blind Taste is an event with the goal of increasing awareness of what it is like to live without sight, but it is also an evening of great joy for everyone who attends. WRBH radio, for 40 years, has been a gift to those with sight issues and this (A Blind Taste) is a way to celebrate all of our listeners.”

Giving

“Eat, Drink and Be Giving” titled the HeartGift Louisiana Dinner at the Audubon Tea Room honoring chapter founders. The organization, a nonprofit, arranges travel and medical care to New Orleans for lifesaving heart surgery at Children’s Hospital “for gravely ill children from around the world (who are) unable to receive treatment in their home countries.” HeartGift Foundation CEO Christy Casey-Moore flew in from Austin, Texas, to personally congratulate the six honorees: Mark Brown, Leslie Ehret, Deb Frilot, Ann and John Herren, and Peter Sperling. A brief program paid tribute to them.

To embellish the Tea Room, dinner chair Doris Schutte and Claire Koch created arrangements of lush hydrangeas and greenery. Guests enjoyed a fine repast of mixed greens salad, beef medallions with pan seared fish, and white chocolate mousse.

Within the gathering of 150 grateful people were outgoing HGL board chair/mistress of ceremonies Maureen Huguley with husband Whit and son Geordie, successor Marye Nickens with Children’s Hospital President and CEO John Nickens, Drs. Diane and Frank Pigula, Dr. Tom Kimball, Dr. Tim Pettitt, Robert and Patti Lapeyre, George Young, Sandra and Elwood Cahill, Mary Mouton, and with their above spouses, Vicky Sperling, George Frilot, Winnie Brown, and Josh Koch. All were touched by the story of the recent surgery by Dr. Pettitt of five-year-old Noath of Honduras, who has been recuperating with a host family in Destrehan. To conclude, the first board chair, Brent Ramirez (with Michele) lauded the chapter’s executive director, Stephanie Berault (with Dr. Greg), calling her the “soul of this chapter” and “the person who makes this amazing organization thrive.”