The
city’s brightest theater enthusiasts gathered at the Hilton
Americas–Houston for Ensemble Theatre’s annual black-tie gala, this
year themed “A Spectacular Evening of Energy, Honor, &
Celebration.” Co-chairmen Jackie Phillips and Paul-David Van Atta,
together with honorary chairman Linnet F. Deily, helped raise $375,000
for the thespian cause, with an additional gift of $550,000 announced
by Ensemble board chairman Argentina James. Energy honorees Spectra
Energy, Shell, ExxonMobil, CenterPoint, Chevron and BP America were
celebrated for their cumulative donations of $1.8 million over the past
five years. Taking center stage: honorees Margaret Avery (Lifetime
Achievement), actor T.C. Carson, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, and rising
star Tré Garrett.