Jim Nelson, Jesse (Jay) H. Jones II, Lynn Wyatt, Stanton Welch AM
Mark and Jamie Loveland
Harper Watters, Kristy Bradshaw, Kelley Lubanko, Jessica Collado
Margaret Alkek Williams and Stanton Welch AM
From Special Events to Soirée
A behind-the-curtain look at the whirlwind stage transformation from live performance to elegant dinner By Alexandra Yates
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HOUSTON BALLET
view provided by this singular evening. What’s even more special is the magic that happens behind the scenes between the performance and dinner. Each year on opening night, postperformance, the stage is transformed into a stunning seated dinner for 200 guests in less than 30 minutes by awardwinning caterer, Jackson & Company. Via dramatic curtain reveal, the gasps from the audience are inspiring. What’s happening backstage is a true scene change. “While Onstage Dinner guests are in the audience listening to brief remarks, what’s happening backstage to get the dinner set is orchestrated carefully, quietly and precisely. The challenge of moving swiftly without making a sound in such a short time frame has become an art we aim to perfect year over year,” says Milton Townsend, Jackson &
Company. Jackson & Company took on the dinner beginning in 2015 and worked closely with Houston Ballet Production and Special Events teams to elevate the one-of-a-kind dining experience. Behindthe-scenes, twenty tables are pristinely set with 400 delicate glasses, the finest dinnerware and nearly 100 hand lit candles to set the stage all with no detail left unturned. “The setup backstage and swift movement of all those who make it possible can only be described as a production of its own. When the curtain begins to rise, you feel the same ‘it’s showtime!’ reaction,” says Townsend. Houston Ballet is thrilled to reintroduce this beloved signature event on Thursday, September 30, under the leadership of Jamie and Mark Loveland as 2021 Onstage Dinner Chairs.
Photos by Wilson Parish
EXCITEMENT MOUNTS AS A RETURN to in-person events launches for Houston Ballet. The past year left dresses unworn, dinners unattended, and also critical funds unraised for many organizations. Houston Ballet was fortunate to have the dedicated support of its patrons during a difficult period. During a time when ballet lovers would normally be mixing and mingling, virtual events took center stage. “While having virtual options were unique and exciting at first, we’re ready to see the real artistry onstage once again,” says Martha Rocks McMurrey, Houston Ballet Trustee and former Onstage Dinner Co-Chair. Houston Ballet’s Onstage Dinner is best experienced live and in-person. The rare opportunity to dine with dancers onstage while looking out into an empty audience is an unmatched
