This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Grand America Hotel Grand Salon was the perfect setting for Ririe-Woodbury's glamorous "Cabaret of Fools" April 1, with music by the Crescent City Band, belly dancing by Kismet and, in the background, the soft tick of the roulette wheel and flutter of shuffled cards at the blackjack table.
About 180 guests bid on auction items ranging from tickets to Jerry Seinfeld's Salt Lake City show (with dinner by Gastronomy) to car detailing by Clark Executive Detail. The event raised close to $10,000.
The roulette table drew some attention, with Shirley Ririe showing beginner's luck with multiple pink chips. Guests enjoyed the floral centerpieces created with "ribbons and flourishes" by Every Blooming Thing's Pam March and the papier-m0ché masks by Bad Dog Rediscovers America.
Cabaret committee chairwoman Teresa Bock and co-chair Kathy Black worked the room with captains Tom Bock, Barbara Dixon, Annie MacDonald and Tom Zarembinski.
Board chairman Rick Laughlin greeted guests along with Michael and Patricia Perlman. Joan Woodbury was there with Charlie Woodbury, O. Rhees Ririe, Peg Silverwood and John Snow, the indomitable Alice Telford and Mona Campbell, Shirley Bliss, Gene Davis, Manuela Hanson and Jeffrey and Yolanda Given, who brought Nicholas, 1 month.
Marty and Melissa Garrett attended along with Ann Vose, Marlene Peterson, Alan Ahtow, James Gonzales, Gordon Black, Jenna Thompson, Jim Higham, Trudy Rutledge, Carol and Danny Anglin, Tami Stumpf, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Anna and Robert Bliss, Mike Riordan, Anne Riordan, Jo Blacke, Carolyn Abravanel, Mark O'Neill, Lisa and Bruce Reading, Ray Kingston, Darren Williams, Amaya Caso, Shannon Short, Emilee Martin, magician Christopher Fair, Jim Wilson with Casino Magic and auctioneer Richard O'Keef.
A 'de-lovely' evening
Ballet West Guild's Evening of Elegance April 2 was, as Cole Porter wrote, "delightful, delicious and de-lovely," with a swirl of evening dresses and tuxedos, a gourmet dinner and a performance of "De-Lovely," choreographed by Ballet West dancers Heather Thackeray and Jason Linsley.
Guests were treated to the talents of pianist Joanne Elmer and a host of auction items including performance tickets and art treasures during the cocktail hour.
The event grossed close to $95,000, and reports are that people danced to the music of Sax Machine late into the evening hours.
Artistic director Jonas Kåge and Deborah Dobson Kåge chatted with friends of the ballet, as did Ballet Master Bruce Caldwell and Nicole Caldwell, Maestro Terence Kern of the Utah Chamber Orchestra and company members Christiana Bennett, Christopher Ruud, Jason Linsley and Stephanie Fenz.
Deborah Flamish, guild board president, visited with Ballet West board chairwoman Carol Carter and guild board member Lauryn Wingate.
Artist Carolyn Schilly was there with Andy Schilly, along with Susan and David Smith, Jan Cendese, Drew Browning and Judy Brady, Pat Giovinazzo, Carol Keenan, Averill Conta, Ann Walsh, Peggy Barnett and Tim and Stephanie Harpst.
United Way head Deborah Bayle Nielsen attended, as did Mariann and Stan Geyer, Katy Partridge and Jerry White, Loretta Falvo-Scott and Michael Scott, Ann and Mac MacQuoid, Clyde Gottfredson, Deborah and Ed Felt, Thom Sawyer, Michael Shuping, Nina and Bernard Bégué, Michael and Denise Bégué and Julie and Darin Speck, Marilynn Roskelley and Paul Dorius, Carol and Guy Kroesche, Jim and Barbara Clark and Sam and Rebecca Guevara.
Jeanne Potucek joined Peter Christie, Charles Black and Sissy Eichwald for the pre-dinner reception, and John and Olga Vazquez shopped the auction along with Heather Cameron, Kathie and Chuck Horman and Kathryn Kercher.
R.S.V.P.
Utah Animal-Assisted Therapy Association and Club Vision invite you to a benefit performance of "The Dust Eaters," donated by Salt Lake Acting Company, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., 168 W. 500 North. Tickets are $20; call 801-280-1855.
Celebrate Olympic wrestling champion Rulon Gardner as the YMCA Man of the Year, Thursday, 5 p.m, Utah Jazz Practice Center, 1414 S. 500 West. Tickets to the Sports Night are $125; call 801-466-6299.
Ebony magazine presents "Ebony Fashion Fair" to benefit A Taste of Juneteenth, a nonprofit group, Thursday,, at 8 p.m., Salt Lake Hilton Hotel, 255 S. West Temple. Famous designers, fabulous clothes, post-show reception. Tickets are $30; call 801-963-2619; 801-949-8113.
Averill Conta, left, and Carol Keenan attend Ballet West's "Evening of Elegance" gala.