Matrice and Ron Kirk*
At a reception just before the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s fourth annual Chairman’s Dinner on Thursday, January 14, about 100 people had gathered on the Shannon and Ted Skokos Stage inside the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. Smack in the middle of the gathering, which consisted of the center’s board members, major donors and sponsors, Matrice Ellis-Kirk was talking about her goal as the AT&T PAC’s new board chair.
“It would be to make the center more accessible to all of Dallas, for it to be a venue for all of Dallas,” Matrice said. “It’s letting the community know about things that are happening in advance. … This place is a chance to bring the community together,” she continued. “Not enough people know about it.”
Margaret Jordan, Jeremy Halbreich, Caren Prothro and Nancy Halbreich*
All around her, partygoers like Chris Heinbaugh were dressed in 1970s disco-style garb, befitting the evening’s “Feeling Groovy” theme. The guests, many of them sipping on specialty cocktails by Alsolut Elyx Vodka, included Marnie and Kern Wildenthal, Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich, Caron Prothro, Tincy Miller, Fanchon and Howard Hallam, Adriana and Guillermo Perales, Julie and Ken Hersh and Ron Kirk.
Adriana and Guillermo Perales*
Howard and Fanchon Hallam*
Not far away from Matrice’s husband—who’d shed his tie quickly after noting the disco scene—the president and CEO of the AT&T PAC, Doug Curtis, was saying the last year had been a good one for the center. “Our resident companies are doing better than ever, and we’ve got great shows coming up,” Curtis said. “Our annual fund and our sponsorships remain strong … they never let us down.” Then, echoing Matrice, he added: “We want everybody in Dallas to know the center is theirs. It’s not just for the elite.”
Alexandra McHugh, Gerardo Galvan and Rebecca Neumann*
A short while later, Matrice formally welcomed the guests to “a far-out and groovy night,” adding with a smile, “I never thought I’d say that about the ’70s!” At that, the big, iconic Moody Foundation Chandelier was slowly lowered with a flourish, lights turning it a “psychedelic” red, purple, and green as a medley of ’70s disco tunes blared from the sound system. Then everyone headed backstage, where there was a feast waiting for them by Wolfgang Puck Catering, a retro Volkswagen Bus Photo Booth for snapshots, and, much later, dancing into the night to the band Cuvee.
* Photo credit: Nate Rehlander