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    Shelby's Social Dairy

    Movie stars hit River Oaks for a premiere — and swank partying

    Shelby Hodge
    shelby hodge
    Dec 11, 2013 | 4:02 pm

    UPDATE: Joanne King Herring is not working with Charlie Gilmore or Sam Cable on any projects and particularly not a television series as it was erroneously reported earlier to CultureMap and then published in this article.

    ----------------------

    As it was filmed mostly in Conroe and financed by Texan Charlie Gilmore of Austin, what else could be a better locale for the premiere of A Little Christmas Business than the venerable River Oaks Theatre? And so it was that stars of the holiday film Lorenzo Lamas and Daniel Baldwin made their way to Houston for the film launch and for a swell party that followed in a swank private home on River Oaks Boulevard.

    Playing a key role behind the scenes in the special Houston evening was Joanne King Herring. Coincidentally, it was six years ago this month that Herring headlined the local premiere of Charlie Wilson's War, in which her character, played by Julia Roberts, had a starring role.

    Taking bows for their Christmas film were Conroe High School teacher Sam Cable and 1976 Olympic boxer Chuck Walker of Conroe, owners of Walker Cable Productions. The duo produced, wrote and directed the movie which is available on Amazon.com.

    “We are proud to offer this as a staple holiday movie,” Cable told the Associated Press. “It’s a feel-good film that expresses the true meaning of family and Christmas.”

    Following the red carpet premiere and an interview of the stars by HoustonPBS' Ernie Manouse, invitation-only guests adjourned to the newly-renovated home of Herring close friend Larry Brookshire, CEO of Fisk Electric. Among the notables joining the party with cast members were U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Gail Walker, Diane Lokey Farb, Paul-David Van Atta, Maha Khan, Beau King Sr., Mica Mosbacher and Jimmy Nelson, owner of Grey Wolf Drilling Co.

    Joanne King Herring, from left, Beau King Jr., Beau King Sr. and Beckett King at A Little Christmas Business movie premiere.

    1 Joanne King Herring, from left, Beau king Jr., Beau King Sr. and Beckett King at A Little Christmas Business movie premiere December 2013
    Photo by Marshall Toppel Toppel Photography
    Joanne King Herring, from left, Beau King Jr., Beau King Sr. and Beckett King at A Little Christmas Business movie premiere.
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    news/society
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    Shopping Fantasia

    Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker preview party sets new donation record

    Joel Luks
    Dec 4, 2025 | 2:00 pm
    Houston Nutcracker Market Preview Party 2025
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Houston Ballet Academy Dancers.

    The Houston holiday season doesn’t officially begin until the Nutcracker Market throws open its doors, and this year’s Wells Fargo Preview Party felt like stepping into a snow globe set on extra. Like more is more.

    Somewhere between the cheeky stocking stuffers and the Dior-kissed repurposed couture, guests needed an actual map to conquer the sprawling shopping fantasia.

    Held November 12 at NRG Center, the 45th anniversary celebration of the Houston Ballet shopping fête welcomed more than 5,000 eager shoppers, all ready to sprint through aisles lined with more than 280 merchants. Helmed by chairs Susan Binney and Jennifer Kushner, along with preview party chairs Leslie Alston, Kaylon Phillips, and Casey Rowe, the evening shimmered with nostalgia. Guests showed up in themed attire ranging from glittery holiday chic to coordinated squads that looked like flash mobs armed with credit cards and a mission.

    Houston Ballet’s new executive director Sonja Kostich arrived for her very first Nutcracker Market, greeting supporters and soaking in the community’s devotion to a beloved tradition that fuels the Ballet’s mission and scholarship programs. Houston Ballet Academy students glided through the party in costumes from Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, creating photo ops. Principal dancer Harper Watters and Houston Ballet icon Lauren Anderson also made appearances.

    Festive cocktails, champagne flutes, and a parade of hors d’oeuvre and desserts satisfied while the David Caceres Band kept the energy high. By the end of the night, the Preview Party had raised nearly $1.5 million in ticket sales and commissions — a record for the Market.

    Moreover, more than 104,000 shoppers showed up during the November 13-16 festivities. All in, ticket sales surpassed $24 million and raised more than $6 million to directly support Houston Ballet, its Academy and scholarship program.

    Showing their holiday spirit were Kristy Bradshaw, Ann Bean, Wendy Burks, Anne Chao, Gay Currie, Tom DeBesse, Arcy Muñoz Marshall, Sharon Erskine, Ann Graham, Twana Griffith Faykus, Michelle Iversen Jeffery, Jay Jones, Julie Kent, Deborah and Edward Koehler, Chad Libertus, Desrye Morgan, Beth Muecke, Patti Murphy, Jennifer Sommers, S. Shawn Stephens, Allison Thacker, Cynthia Wolff, Deborah Duncan, Ghada Ali, Carolina Oliveira, Catarina R. Gonzales, and Miya Shay.

    Houston Nutcracker Market Preview Party 2025

    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Houston Ballet Academy Dancers.

    fundraisershouston balletshoppingnutcracker market
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