Wortham Theater Center really was the House of Blues and the House of Blue Saturday night when Society for the Performing Arts held its "Rockin' the Blues" spring gala.

From the swaths of blue-lighted fabric that soared above the dining area and dance floor to the on-stage presence of blues great Bobby "Blue" Bland and his band, the 400 guests grooved in a retro mood. Add Stevie Dupre and the Delta Flyers and Milton Hopkins to the soulful jazz sounds that preceded the headliner. And add silver tureens filled with magnolia leaves and fragrant gardenias, shaded candlesticks and six dazzling crystal chandeliers to the decorative scheme devised by Rebekah Johnson.

Applause, applause for chairs Georgia and Mike Foulard, who oversaw the black-tie gala that enriched SPA coffers by $400,000. A whopping $100,000 came that very night in the live auction thanks to the talents of auctioneer Jeff Smith and the expertise of auction chairs Brenda and Marc Watts. Also taking bows were gala honorary chairs and long-time SPA supporters Ginni and Richard Mithoff. It was a night that put a broad smile on the face of SPA executive director June Christensen.

The party was just getting started when a second wave of revelers, 150 strong, poured into the Grand Foyer for the after-party (a lower ticket, a younger crowd) for the Blues BASH chaired for the second year by Beth Bryant and Cortney Cole, who were joined this year by John Gerard and Michael Coppens.

Blues Brothers style sunglasses, flashing rings and flashing guitar-shaped lapel pins set the newcomers apart from those who had already secured their seats and dined on yummy Southern-inspired fare from Jackson & Co.

In the mix of gala-goers were Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Tricia and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Courtney and Bo Hopson, George Foulard, Liz and Tom Glanville, Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Nancy and Chuck Davidson and Lisanne and Jim Rogers. And did we mention Mary Tere and Ricardo Perusquia, Sara Dodd Spickelmier and Keith Spickelmier, and Karen and Scott Rozell.