Golden Night at Stunning Houston Home Sets Stage for Ballet Ball

Ah, Houston Ballet’s 50th year is off to a rollicking start, first with the season opening night gala and now with the Ballet Ball kickoff held in a magnificent golden-hued home, fitting for the golden anniversary.

Franci Neely opened her residence and gardens on this temperate evening to ballet supporters including ball chairs Beth and Nick Zdeblick, honorary chair Phoebe Tudor and ball honoree Margaret Alkek Williams.

Luxe elements of the evening included flowers by David Brown, hors d’oeuvres from City Kitchen and piano music performed on Neely’s baby grand piano.

Few partygoers arrived empty-handed as the night also served as a collection opportunity for guests to share primo vino from their private collections. Their contributions to the Ballet Ball Wine Cellar will make it one of the many irresistible silent auction offerings at the ball. You can make your bids on February 22 in Wortham Theater Center as the ball returns to its roots.

Ballet board chair Shawn Stephens announced that New York powerhouse party band Sound House and The Tribute would be entertainment for the ball.

In keeping with the ballet milestone, goodnight gifts for the generous supporters were boxes of gold-dusted chocolate truffles.

PC Seen: Molly and Jim Crownover, Leigh and Reggie Smith, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, Sandy Godfrey, Martha Rocks McMurrey and Marvin McMurrey, Beth Muecke, Pamela and Bruce Earthman, Mary Ann and David McKeithan, Jerry Martin, Jo and Jim Furr, Ann Trammell, Stephanie Tsuru, and Houston Ballet executive director Jim Nelson.