When invites announced the 2015 Crystal Charity Ball theme reveal would take place on the top floor of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science on Tuesday, May 12, guests couldn’t help but wonder if the December 5th gala was going to go 65 million years back in time. After all, the dinosaurs in the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall pretty much dominated the floor. Perhaps there was a connection with the 1993 Speilberg blockbuster making a return to prominence with the summer release of “Jurassic World”?
But that just didn’t feel right — Crystal Charity Ball goes caveman?
Perot Museum of Nature and Science resident
Pat Harloe and Libby Allred
But once guests like Caren and Peter Kline, Aileen and Jack Pratt, Kristina Whitcomb, Susan McSherry, Christie Carter, Elizabeth Gambrell, Janie and David Condon, Tucker Enthoven, Sarah Losinger, Fredye Factor and Vinnie and Malcolm Reuben arrived via the elevator, they were welcomed by party Co-Chairs Libby Allred and Pat Harloe and discovered the level also boasted the “Expanding Universe Hall.”
Sarah Losinger and Fredye Factor
Jack Pratt
Elizabeth Gambrell
Kristina Whitcomb, Susan McSherry and Christie Carter
Now, theories were abounding that it was going to be spaceships. CCB Chair Michal Powell was delighted that she had folks guessing.
Pam Perella guessed that it had something to do with “the stars.”
Michal Powell
The guessing game continued until 7:45, when Michal stood at the podium in front of an interactive display with images of space in the background, welcomed all and thanked Bank of Texas for hosting the evening. BofT’s Ryan Suchala told the group, “This is by far the coolest venue I’ve ever addressed people in. I have the universe behind me!” He went on to say that he and his wife had chaired events in the past and felt for the Michal and her husband Loyd Powell, as well as the other past chairs in attendance: “Nothing has ever brought us closer to divorce than chairing something.”
Ryan had just been named BofT’s Dallas Market President the week before after serving as president of Bank of Arizona.
Loyd admitted to friends of Michal, “I haven’t seen her since Sunday. It’s like ships passing in the night.”
Loyd Powell
Tom Addis
Behind the scenes, audio staffers tried to silence the birth of the solar system sound effects that continued to play. That didn’t deter Michal as she returned to the podium and graciously thanked the cast of vendors who have been a part of the CCB successes, including Maria and Junior Villanueva, the Hilton Anatole’s Catherine New and Lambert’s.
An Evening of Celestial Radiance
When it came to event producer Tom Addis, Michal recalled, “In 1993, Sara Martineau was chair of CCB. She decided to hire Tom Addis. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. Flying Wallendas on the wire. It was amazing for a girl from Andrews, Texas! This one will be Tom’s 22nd…” With the sound effects still playing and comets appearing on the screen over her shoulder, Michal kidded, “…If I’m hit by an asteroid!”
Then she had the announcement made via slides and video with a galaxy of stars revealing that the theme would be: “An Evening of Celestial Radiance.”
With that signage was displayed showcasing the out-of-this-world theme.
The announcement was greeted with ooh’s and applause. Leslie Diers summed it up, “I love the drama.”