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    Music for UT

    River Oaks home rocks with night of song and dance performed by University of Texas students

    Shelby Hodge
    Feb 29, 2016 | 10:19 am

    What: Night of song and dance benefiting the University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance.

    Where: The River Oaks home of Kathryn and Jeff Smith.

    The scoop: Top song and dance talent from the university wowed supporters with their repertoire of show tunes, performed in the Smith's den where all furniture had been removed for the performance. These and other private funds are raised to provide scholarships which are used to recruit top student talent from around the country.

    Dee Dawson chaired the gathering where UT's director of theater and dance Brant Pope welcomed guests.

    Who: Leslie and Jack Blanton, Chree Boydston, Melissa and Scott Ison, Kari Gonzalez and John Dagley, Judy and Jimmy McCartney, Karen and Marty Skolnik, Charlotte Orr, John Pettiette, and Molly and Duncan Lamme.

    Charlotte Orr, Brant Pope.

    UT Music Fundraiser Charlotte Orr, Brant Pope
    Photo by John Cox
    Charlotte Orr, Brant Pope.
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    Game On

    Mahjong for a Cure dazzles Houston with glamour, games, and giving

    Joel Luks
    Sep 5, 2025 | 9:40 am
    Mahjong for a Cure Breakthrough T1D 2025
    Photo by Priscilla Dickson
    Katie Keener, Natasha Parvizian, and Lisa Eicher.

    Animal print met high stakes as Park House Houston morphed into a mash-up of 90s runway and competitive game night for Mahjong for a Cure.

    Mahjong for a Cure Breakthrough T1D 2025

    Photo by Priscilla Dickson

    Katie Keener, Natasha Parvizian, and Lisa Eicher.

    Sequins sparkled, cocktails flowed, and tiles clinked as Houston’s glitterati showed up ready to play — and, of course, to give.

    The evening set the tone early with a showstopper: A shirtless, gold-painted Mahjong model strutting through the champagne reception while balancing trays of Maj Margaritas. Hello, abs.

    Guests laughed, snapped selfies, and toasted the unexpected twist before settling in for the main attraction. At the tables, Mahjong maven Becky Livingstone, better known as Lady Mahj, and her crew presided over rounds of strategy and smack talk.

    Host Alexandra Bruskoff had more than bragging rights in mind. With her 15-year-old daughter navigating type 1 diabetes since age 10, Bruskoff has turned Mahjong for a Cure into a stylish juggernaut of a fundraiser. This year, it delivered more than $225,000 directly to Breakthrough T1D, the global research and advocacy group pushing toward cures and better treatments.

    When players weren’t eyeing the tiles, they were sinking into the perks: Shoulder massages for table winners, crowd-pleasing beats from DJ Curtis, and a menu built for indulgence.

    The auction and raffle kept the energy buzzing with prizes ranging from a Taylor Swift–signed guitar to spa packages, luxe getaways, and even a custom kid’s party package. Every guest walked out with a Mahjong for a Cure shuffler, while VIPs and sponsors scored twillies and hand-drawn card covers.

    On hand to celebrate were board member Rich Bruskoff with daughters Georgie and Teddy Bruskoff, incoming board president Jordan Amis, executive director Rick Byrd, associate executive director Deandrea Dillard, and T1D ambassadors Laney Grace Caylor, Caroline Stegent, and Sky Easterbrook.

    Also spotted were Lindsay Brochstein, Jennie Buxbaum, Amanda Gonzalez, Natasha Oliver, Natasha Parvizian, Shelby Stegent, Kiera Sheffield, Vanessa Ames, Courtney Zubowski, Jennifer Pinkerton, Stacy Soefer Gomar, Laura Davenport, Molly Stone, Jennifer Cope, Jordan Seff, Alicia Gordy, Meredith Marshall, and Jennie Siegal.

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