Black Tie & Tales

+ Some enchanted evening
Some 200 members of the Asolo Rep “family” gathered for the theater’s Welcome Back Party Oct. 30. Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards got everyone excited about “South Pacific,” which goes into previews  Nov. 11 with a special Veterans Day celebration. Cast members Kelly Felthous, Maggie Cansler, Laura Gepford, Willow Schneider and Tony Festa performed, then joined the guests to sing “Happy Birthday” to Asolo Crystal Society member Lee Peterson. Edwards introduced incoming Asolo board President Mary Lou Winnick, who got off the auto train from Connecticut just in time for the evening event. She had great news to share about the success of the Asolo endowment drive, which is a special passion for her and husband, Ed.

The charmer of the evening was a beautiful young lady, who turned out to be Roselynn, the exquisite 7-year-old daughter of Retta Wagner. Guests departed with a swag bag from the Asolo and an information packet for the 2015 Modern Pentathlon First World Cup, the latter courtesy of Katherine Harris, Sarasota Bradenton Pentathlon executive chair of the competition, which is set for February.

+ Tidbits
Brevity is the soul of friendship … How many times have you been promised “brief comments” only to have them go on and on? Friendship Centers’ leadership actually delivered at a thank you party for their donors, legacy society members and other supporters Oct. 30, at Hyatt Regency Sarasota. President/CEO Robert Carter, Senior Vice President Erin McLeod and board president Kathy Silverberg expressed their gratitude with terse eloquence so their 80-plus guests could return to their food and drink. Seen at the Hyatt: Gloria Moss, Andi and Bob Munzer, Bob Harris and Paula Wasserman, Dr. Gloria Schranz, Debbie Frank, JoAnne Nevins, Sunny O’Flynn and Mildred Field … Wearing white after labor day … It’s just a suggestion not a mandate for An Evening in White Gayla, the wild-and-wacky drag show benefiting Community AIDS Network’s emergency fund. The lovely, award-winning Amy DeMilo returns to emcee; new to the show is Versage from St. Petersburg, a Michael Jackson impersonator. Tickets for the Nov. 10 party at Michael’s On East are $100 and can be purchased by calling 365-6922. … Hooded … Sarasota philanthropist Gerri Aaron made a special visit to Arcadia University in Philadelphia this summer to deliver the commencement address to graduate students and to receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities in Health Sciences in recognition of her long and active support of the school’s programs. She celebrated her “hooding” with an amazing smile and a talk that she described as “in the key of C,” sharing with the graduates her passions for collaboration, cooperation, charity and compassion. To which BT adds, congratulations … A first in Black Tie history … At the Oct. 22 Wit and Wisdom sponsor kickoff party, the always elegant Sue Jacobson and her mother, Dorothy, approached BT editor Heather Merriman with a request. The duo was hoping Merriman would be in attendance so they could tap her for a picture for their holiday cards. Warning: you may see the photo again next month …

+ Black Tie Affair
A Fashionable Evening — A Tribute to Phil King
Benefiting: Glasser-Schoenbaum Human Services Center
When: 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14
Where: Hyatt Regency Sarasota
Tickets: $250
Contact: 365-4545

Co-chairs Marlene Hauck, Bunny Skirboll and Gail Welch have pulled out all the stops to honor the Glasser-Schoenbaum’s recently retired Executive Director Phil King and introduce new leader Kameron Hodgens. Persistent spying on our part can only reveal that the event could be billed as a “feast of surprises.”