Party Watch

Giselle-inspired evening sets the stage for 2026 Houston Ballet Ball

What: Houston Ballet Ball Kickoff

Photo by Annie Mulligan

Gary and Susan Binney.

Where: The Fertitta family residence

The Scoop: A who’s who of Houston’s arts scene gathered in the glittering River Oaks home owned by Paige Fertitta for an elegant evening to toast the upcoming 2026 Houston Ballet Ball, set for February 21. A live pianist set the tone as Houston Ballet Trustees, patrons, and supporters sipped Champagne Madame Zero and grazed on charcuterie by Grotto Downtown, luxe passed bites, and a showstopping caviar bar courtesy of La Griglia.

Sonja Kostich, executive director of Houston Ballet, welcomed guests with heartfelt thanks, spotlighting key players behind the scenes, including ball chairs Christine and David M. Underwood Jr., and the 2026 honorees Richard Flowers and Houston First, represented by Paula Whitten-Doolin.

The night’s big reveal? This year’s Ballet Ball theme, drawn from Act II of Stanton Welch’s ethereal Giselle — a haunting woodland dream world brought to life in rich greens and blues. As a preview of the main event, Flowers and The Events Company transformed the Fertitta home into an enchanting forest-inspired fête.

Attendees didn’t leave empty-handed — or empty-handed themselves. Guests contributed prized bottles to the Ballet Ball Wine Cellar, setting the stage for a highly competitive silent auction.

Who: Ada Agbor, Cynthia and Bucky Allshouse, Susan and Gary Binney, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Cheryl Byington, Zoe Cadore, Kristen Cannon, Anne and Albert Chao, Margaret Cox, Tracy and Valerie Dieterich, Bruce and Pamela Earthman, Lesha Elsenbrook, Blayne Fertitta, Angel Rios, Lily Chen Foster and Charles Foster, Ellie Francisco, Jo Furr, Mignon Gill, Victoria Gutierrez, Jayne Johnston, Jennifer and Christopher Laporte, Amy LeBlanc, Petra Martinez, Jean and Henry May, Kris McGee, Lauren and Jordan Mintz, Desrye Morgan, Beth Muecke, Patti and Don Murphy, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Tammy and Wayne Nguyen, Cabrina Owsley, Karen Payne, Melissa Reihle, Shara and Kent Schaffer, Tricia and Mark Singer, Sunday Shepherd, Alicia Smith, Liliana Soltero and Mike Hawkins, Tatiana Sorkin and Michel Coret, S. Shawn Stephens, Stephanie Tsuru, Marguerite Swartz, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, and Beth Wolff.

fundraisers houston ballet

Field of Green

Astros owner Jim Crane honored at Memorial Park's gala soirée

Memorial Park Conservancy 2026 Park Ball

Photo by Jenny Antill

Catherine Chapman, Eliza Tollette, Mary Claire Boline, Emma Mason, and Lisa Mason.

Not all successful fundraisers require gowns and tuxes.

Photo by Jenny Antill

Catherine Chapman, Eliza Tollette, Mary Claire Boline, Emma Mason, and Lisa Mason.

Memorial Park Conservancy’s 2026 Park Ball summoned 500 guests for Gala in the Glades. Chaired by Emily Clay and Bill Schneidau alongside Mary Kay and Brandt Bowden, the fête honored Jim Crane, Whitney Crane, and the Astros Golf Foundation for their continued support of Memorial Park Conservancy.

The timing felt especially apropos as the foundation returned to Memorial Park Golf Course for The Chevron Championship after its annual presence through the Texas Children’s Houston Open. During the evening program, Memorial Park Conservancy board chair Veronica Chapa Gorczynski and president and CEO Chris Ballard presented the honorees and chairs with tokens of appreciation.

In a rare gala feat, the lights dimmed completely and guests paused for 30 seconds of stillness to fully absorb the sounds and atmosphere of the surrounding parkland. The calm gave way to cheerful chaos later in the evening when guests discovered hidden door prizes tucked beneath random chairs,

Dinner by City Kitchen kept the evening polished, while Houston Groove Society turned the glades into a dance floor once dessert plates cleared. The annual fundraiser raked in more than $1 million to support Memorial Park’s 1,100 acres of urban forest, prairie, and savanna habitat.

Embracing park life were Andrea and Jared Crane, Giles and Andrea Kibbe, Anita Seghal, Manish and Neha Agrawal, Janet and Paul Hobby, Kate and Steve Gibson, Dick and Meg Weekley, Chris Weekley and Christine Laborde, Chris and Aubrey Ballard, Joe Cleary, Lia Vallone, Veronica Chapa Gorczynski and John Gorczynski, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Kalinda Campbell, Claire and John Caudill, Lissa and Farzanah Gangjee, Rogene Gee, Elizabeth and Tom Howley, George Johnston and Jaime Loera, Sabrina and Jordan Kirwin, Louie and Maggie Layrisson, Marilyn and Bob McDowell, Linda Padon, Tanya and Rick Pal, Penny and Townes Pressler, Jessica Rawson, Karen and Rob Saltiel, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, Cyvia Wolff and Marc Grossberg, and Thomas Hunt.

memorial park fundraisers