Star-studded night

Rivalry and revenge shine at Houston Grand Opera’s grand opening gala

Houston’s cultural elite hit a high note as the Houston Grand Opera orchestrated its much-anticipated 2024–25 season curtain raiser with Verdi’s vengeful Il trovatore. The black-tie gala on October 18 struck a fabulous chord at Wortham Theater Center, ending with a tented soirée on Fish Plaza where opera aficionados and stars mingled.

Under the baton of event chairs Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, opening night ushered 425 attendees, including a chorus of visitors from beyond Houston’s borders, proving the presenter’s global reach.

Under the vision of Stephen Wadsworth, this avant-garde Il trovatore transposed the audience to a pulsating modern Spain, where architecture conversed with vibrant street art. The gritty, almost rock-and-roll sets swept the crowd into the tumultuous love triad that is the heart of Verdi’s opus.

The Events Company set a festive milieu that danced between old-world elegance and modern flair while City Kitchen Catering served a menu that hit all the right notes: a refreshing beet salad with frisée, tender boneless beef short ribs, and a decadent dark chocolate torte.

General director and CEO Khori Dastoor composed a tribute to artistic and music director Patrick Summers to celebrate his transition to Music Director Emeritus in 2026. Honoring board chair Claire Liu, recently lauded by Opera America, Dastoor highlighted her leadership and dedication, a true maestro behind Houston’s operatic ensemble. The event raised $612,000 to amplify HGO’s mission of enriching Houston’s diverse symphony through the timeless art of opera.

Margaret Alkek Williams, Jack Bell, Molly and Jim Crownover, Isabel and Danny David, Tracy and Valerie Dieterich, Warren and Rachel Ellsworth, Liz Grimm and Jack Roth, Jake Heggie, Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs, Elizabeth and Richard Husseini, Teresa and José Ivo, Carey Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth and Bill Kroger, Joe Greenberg, Indira and Jason Mills, Franci Neely, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Kelly and David Rose, Lindy and John Rydman, Monica Karuturi and Kumaran Sathyamoorthy, Diana Skerl and Michael Karakasians, Dian and Harlan Stai, Sylvia Barnes and Jim Trimble, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Hallie Vanderhider, and Ellen and Bob Vladem

Photo by Michelle Watson

Janet Gurwitch, Raehann Bryce-Davis, and Michelle Hevrdejs.

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For Good

Emotional night uplifts mental health at UTHealth Houston's $1.8M gala

UT Health Houston Mission in Action gala 2025

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Greg and Kristy Kroencke and Cheryl and Anthony Faillace.

At a time when mental health is finally getting its long-overdue moment in the spotlight, more than 200 supporters gathered at the Thompson Hotel for UTHealth Houston’s 2025 Mission in Action gala — an evening as elegant as it was emotionally resonant. Co-chairs Yvonne and Walter Johnson welcomed guests to an event that raised awareness and empathy.

This year’s event honored the John S. Dunn Foundation, a philanthropic force synonymous with health care advancement in Houston. Accepting the honor on behalf of the foundation, Charlie Lusk reflected on a legacy that’s shaped institutions quietly but powerfully over nearly five decades.

The evening, produced by Keely Thorne Events, struck a tone of transformation and dignity. Live music from Divisi Strings floated through a ballroom filled with trees and moody ombré florals by The Blooming Gallery, symbolizing the journey from darkness to light.

Walter Johnson shared his own family’s experience with behavioral health struggles. That spotlight widened with a moving video presentation featuring two UTHealth Houston patients, whose candid stories offered a visceral look at what compassion, research, and comprehensive care can achieve. UTHealth Houston president Melina Kibbe underscored a future-facing focus.

“We are committed to building a future where behavioral health care is more predictive, more preventive, and more personalized so that we can reach people earlier and support them more effectively,” Kibbe said.

The evening’s total impact? More than $1.8 million raised in support of behavioral health research, education, and care at UTHealth Houston.

In the room were Marco Patti, Cynthia Adkins, Terri Lacy, Diana Hawkins, Andy Sowell, John Wallace, Kathleen and Dick Rogers, Cheryl and Anthony Faillace, Jodie Jiles, Sonny Jiles, Ginny and LE Simmons, Larry and Tatiana Seligmann, Bette and Ralph Thomas, Mike and Rajni Jain, Elizabeth and Drew Kanaly, Maria Pappas, Anne-Laure and Steve Stephens, Lisa and Michael Sachs, Les and Linda Allison, Clay and Charlotte Allison, Carla Diaz Lewis and Kenneth Lewis, Anne and Karl Stern, Leila and Walter Mischer, and Regina Rogers.

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Greg and Kristy Kroencke and Cheryl and Anthony Faillace.

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