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September 30, 2011 - Washington Ballet's The Great Gatsby Prohibition Party
What: The Washington Ballet kicked off the 2011-2012 Ballet Season by celebrating in Jazz Age style. The Inaugural Ballet Soirée transformed the grand United States Chamber of Commerce into a glamorous 1920s speakeasy for a celebration of Septime Webre’s adaptation of the classic novel The Great Gatsby. This event was presented by The Women's Committee of The Washington Ballet and lead sponsor Montblanc.
Where: The United States Chamber of Commerce
When: September 30, 2011
Time: 7:00 PM - 10 PM
Ticket Prices: $175 - $1,000
Beneficiary: The Washington Ballet
Host(s): Chamber of Commerce
Presenting Sponsor(s): Montblanc
Gala Chairperson(s): Mandy Delk and Elizabeth Wrege
Executive Director: Peter Branch
Committee Members: Charo Abrams, Erin Barnes, Maureen Berk, Mary Bird, Leanne Boland, Shigeko Bork, Stacci Capuano, Meredith Cymerman, Debra Black Decko, Nasim Deylami, Phoebe Eliopoulos, Cyd Everett, Christina Grigorian, Meb Gordon, Barbara McConaghy Johnson, Leberty Jones, Beth Kohlhoss, Donna Limerick, Sara Lange, Stacey Lubar, Charlotte Marshall, Lis Petkevich, Laura Swanstrom Reece, Tira Roy, CVarol Ruppel, Maggie Sheedy, Deborah Sigmund, Janet Shatz Snyder, Jennifer Streaks, Erica Wigley
Patrons: Jean Rosenthal Cafritz, Dan Cameron Family Foundation, Meredith & Michael Cymerman, Jamie & David Dorros
Staff: Alyssa Porambo, Elizabeth Early
Welcome: Amanda Delk and Elizabeth Wrege
Speaker: Atissa Tadjadod, Vice President of Marketing, Montblanc North America
Catering: RSVP
Entertainment: Hot Club of DC
Music: DJ Pitch One, Hot Club of DC
Sponsors: Montblanc
Auctioneer: Howard B. Parzow
Gala Production: Michael Horton
Menu: Chicken pot pie,fingerling potato, Chopped Caesar salad, asparagus and roasted tomato, bourbon meatball, mini codcake, mini beef wellington, house smoked salmon, blackberry and passion fruit, dutch apple crisp
Attire: Flapper
Hors D'Oeuvres:: RSVP
Donors: Ace Beverage, AMTRAK, Batch 19, Capital Wines, The Dandelion Patch, Smooth Ambler
Board of Directors: Sylvia A. deLeon, Frank Loy, Brian Conboy, Eve Auchincloss Lilley, Arturo Brillembourg, Armeane Choksi, Michael B. Goldstein
Steering Committee: Charo Abrams, Erin Barnes, Maureen Berk, Mary Bird, Leanne Boland, Shigeko Bork, Staci Capuano, Debra Black Decko, Nasim Deylami, Phoebe Eliopoulos, Cyd Everett, Christina Grigorian, Meb Gordon, Barbara McConaghy Johnson, Liberty Jones, Beth Kohlhoss, Donna Limerick, Sara Lange, Stacey Lubar, Charlotte Marshall, Lis Petkevich, Laura Swanstrom Reece, Rita Roy, Carol Ruppel, Maggie Sheedy, Deborah Sigmund, Janet Shatz Snyder, Jennifer Streaks, Erica Wigley
Blacktie Photos by: Bry Boland and Daniel Clemmer
Laura Nelson, Steve Pearlman,Andrea Garcia,Meredith Cymerman, Donna Glover
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The timeless setting of the United States Chamer of Commerce building set the stage for the Annual Ballet Soiree benefiting The Washiongton Ballet. Pulled together by The Women’s Committee, who advances TWB’s mission by raising awareness of the Ballet’s tremendous artistic contribution to the Greater Washington, DC region. The Inaugural Ballet Soiree: The Great Gatsby Prohibition Party recalled sparkling memories of the golden age of flappers and flounces.
Montblanc, the most fitting of sponsors, underwrote the glamorous event, remembering an unrivalled reputation for pecision in design, materials and craftsmanship. Just like the dancers of The Washington Ballet, seen welcoming guests in gorgeous, vintage looking dresses and later entertaining with a suite from The Great Gatsby.
DJ Pitch One boggied in with music for dancing guests. Hot Club of DC smoothed libations during the cocktail hour, hosted in part by Smooth Ambler, sponsored in-kind by Christine & Greg Parseghian. Franco Nuschese of Capitol Wines sponsored the red and white wine, and Coors donated their new line called Batch 19, a lager brewed from a pre-prohibiton recipe.
Event Committe member Charo Abrams' RSVP Catering delighted guests with a delicious menu including bourbon meatballs, mini beef wellington and blackbery and passion frui gelee.
Absolutely fabulously costumed gals and their handsomely haberdashered guys strolled about, pausing occasionally to pose for photographers. The event was well attended, and thoroughly enjoyed.
The Washington Ballet is one of the pre-eminent ballet organizations in the United States. The company presents the revival of Septime Webre's acclaimed The Great Gastby at The Kennedy Center, November 2nd - 6th.