Cinderella—now playing at PCPA—is a campy confection. It will undoubtedly delight hundreds of showgoers of all ages this month and next.

When you have a show where the fairy godmother appears and gets a huge, spontaneous outburst of applause, you know you have a hit. Fairy godmothers, it would seem, are in.

click to enlarge Hobnobbing with Helen
PHOTO BY HELEN ANN THOMAS
A CINDERELLA STORY: Franzitska Shepard and David Baskett flanked by Cinderella (Hannah Wade) and Prince Topher (Michael Beal) at the PCPA Foundation’s annual Gala held on Saturday evening, Nov. 14, at the Hancock Performing Arts Complex. Wade and Beal did not play Cinderella and the Prince on stage.

To celebrate the opening of this Harlequin-like love story, as well as to raise money for the theater, the PCPA Foundation, headed by Gillian Cole-Andrews, held its annual gala on Saturday evening, Nov. 14, at Allan Hancock College’s Performing Arts Complex. 

The gala was a “royal” occasion. Guests traveled down a red carpet after being greeted by PCPA’s artistic director Mark Booher and foundation board President Ron Nanning, and Mary Nanning.

Then came the real kick: A suitably attired “royal” herald, aka PCPA’S Eric Stein, with dramatic zeal, announced the name and “title” of guests, as they entered the theater.

He announced Lord and Lady Robert and Sandra Dickerson, the Baron and Baroness Charles and Judy Markline, Lady Doris Lahr, Duchess Nancy K. Johnson, the Count and Countess Brooks and Kate Firestone, and the Marquis and Marquise Ron and Stacy Verbryke. 

He also announced the Right Honorable Royce Lewellen and Her Royal Highness Ann Foxworthy Lewellen.

Eric pulled these make-believe titles out of thin air, at random. The titles could be interchangeable. I most certainly did not get all these titles exactly right. I just wanted you to get the idea of the happenings. 

As you can imagine, this was all great fun and immediately put arrivals in a jolly good mood. With their newly acquired royal status, guests headed to the bars at each end of the theater. These were amply stocked with very nice wines. PCPA’s Managing Director Michael Black was the most congenial of bar hosts.

As befits a royal gala, guests were attired in their finest (or near-finest) evening clothes. Black-tie attire was all over the place, as were long gowns and glamorous accessories.

click to enlarge Hobnobbing with Helen
PHOTO BY HELEN ANN THOMAS
NO WICKED STEPMOTHERS HERE: Left to right: Ron and Sylvia Ng and Jackie and Bruno Brunello at PCPA’s annual Gala held on Saturday evening, Nov. 14, at Hancock’s Performing Arts Complex.

Heather Weare’s husband, Chris Edwards, got our attention with his Scottish kilt. There was another gent in kilt as well. Everyone was dressed for the royal ball that took place later on stage.

Before the show, guests could take a seat at a table in the Cabaret (aka the Severson Theater), sip wine, and enjoy appetizers and a series of PCPA students singing. Doesn’t that sound oh-so-soignee?

Guests could also visit the dance studio at the other end of the theater for even more appetizers (think steak sliders from Testa Catering) and a silent auction table.

Guests were photographed in an utterly charming setting. Cinderella (Hannah Wade) and the Prince (Michael Beal) with “glass slipper” in hand flanked those being photographed. I just loved this and am still smiling over it.


If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at [email protected].

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