New Orleans’ Garden District Is Transported to Houston For a $600,000 Performing Arts Night
While the theme of the Houston Performing Arts Kaleidoscope Ball was “A Night in the Garden District,” the mood was decidedly laissez le bon temps rouler. The evening began at the Fish Plaza outside the downtown Wortham Theater, where Southern cocktails provided the joie de vivre and the sounds of a second-line band set the stage for the New Orleans-style evening.
The band with sousaphones, saxophones, traditional drums and more led a lively parade through the Wortham Center’s Grand Foyer, where Spanish moss (the real thing), hanging vines, Tivoli lights and abundant flowers were placed, all in hand. of Rebekah Johnson of Bergner Johnson. the scene.
Houston Kaleidocsope Ball Mignon & Steve Gill Performing Arts Chairs (Photo by Jacob Power)
The topic was no surprise since gala chairs Mignon and Steve Gill, after graduating from Rutgers University, both earned their law degrees in Louisiana. She at LSU and he at Tulane. They began their life together in New Orleans before moving to Houston to raise their family.
The pair were part of Franco Valobra’s Mardi Gras entourage when Steve Gill served as King of Hermes in New Orleans in 2022. Kristen Cannon of Valobra Master Jewelers served as auction chair for the gala which raised $600,000 for the beloved arts organization formerly known as the Performing Arts Society. Valobra further offered a stunning diamond pendant necklace for the raffle.
Maria and Omar Alaoui, auctioneer Kristen Cannon at the Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Ball in Houston. (Photo by Jacob Power)
Jackson & Company provided the delicious New Orleans gala food.
Adding to the Crescent City ambiance was music by jazz trumpeter Jeremy Davenport of the Davenport Lounge at the New Orleans Ritz-Carlton. The “kaleidoscope” of entertainment included jazz music at the dinner by students of the High School for Performing and Visual Arts and after-party spins by DJ Corey Greene. That late night party rocked until 1am.
The evening honored longtime Houston Performing Arts patrons Linda and Willie Chiang.
Brian & Margaret Bravo at the Performing Arts Houston Kaleidoscope Ball. (Photo by Jacob Power)
“Saturday night was a celebration of two incredible philanthropists and community leaders, Linda and Willie Chiang, and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this unique organization and its critical work,” says President and CEO of Performing Arts Houston, Meg Booth.
Seen on PC: Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro, Amy and Rob Pierce, Kristina Somerville, Rachelle and Jeff Ball, CC and Duke Ensell, Janet and Bill Swanstrom, Maria and Omar Alaoui, Margaret and Brian Bravo, Corina and Armando Perez, Marie and Alain LeNotre, Dr. Bhakti Khatri and Monsterville Horton, and Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones.
