SPA Gala: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
By Anne Lee Phillips //
Photography Priscilla Dickson
What: Society for the Performing Arts Gala, benefitting SPA’s community and engagement programs.
Where: Wortham Center Grand Foyer.
Who: Chairs Linda and Willie Chiang; honorary chairs Elizabeth and Tim Vail; SPA prez June Christensen; honoree Stephen Chazen, CEO of Occidental Petroleum (the company just moved HQ to Houston from L.A.; Chazen teased about Houston’s “bad weather and good people” compared to L.A.); SPA supporters Melanie Gray, Katherine and Paul Murphy, Kathryn and Jeff Smith, Tony Bradshaw and Kevin Black, Maryam Afshari and James Khreibani, and Mary Margaret Kinnan with beau Brannon Albritton.
PC Moment: Green and rainbow-hued dresses ruled at this Somewhere Over the Rainbow-themed gala — a fitting complement to the Emerald City scene crafted by Bergner & Johnson. Jackson and Company served a colorful dinner; the desserts of long rainbow cake slices and yellow bricks of lemon mousse were a delightful end to the meal. The sold-out crowd of more than 500 bid heavily on the auction items, ensuring SPA can continue to bring the world’s best to Houston.
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