48 ORLANDO LIFE NOVEMBER 2013

PEOPLE & PLACES with paula

In my mind, it seemed like the classiest dinner theater in town — although, technically, it was billed as Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s 25th Anniversary Gala.

Let’s start with the dinner, because, let’s face it, who in their right mind passes up a chance to belly up to the bard? Laid out in the lobby of the company’s multi-theater complex in Loch Haven Park on that star-struck night were culinary wonders supplied by Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ, Dexter’s Restaurants of Orlando, Puff-n-Stuff Event Catering and Rosen Hotels.

Now the theater: Once our glorious grazing was done, we glided on down to the Margeson Theater, where first we enjoyed entertaining reminiscences about the evolution of one of the city’s most important cultural institutions from some of the folks who had a hand in it: Shakes Artistic Direc-tor Jim Helsinger, University of Central Florida President John Hitt, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and attor-ney Suzanne E. Gilbert, president of the Shakes board.

Then we watched former SunTrust CEO Tom Yochum play auctioneer. He’s a powerful guy, but couldn’t stop his wife, Penny (what a great name for a banker’s wife), from outbidding everyone else when she was so inclined.

We enjoyed all that plus a scene from the Shakes’ Wild West-set production of Taming of the Shrew (Geoffrey Kent and Deanna Gibson made a perfectly pugilistic match as a cowpoke version of Petruchio and Kate).

But honestly, the most heartwarming part of all was to scan the audience and make a mental note of all the Shakes stalwarts: über-donors John and Rita Lowndes, Ken and Trisha Margeson, Frank Santos and Dan Dantin; board member Bryce West; and the gala’s chair, Patricia Stras-berg — not to mention Orange County Commissioner Ted Edwards and Orlando City Commissioner Robert Stuart.

LA MASCHERA“I’m the madam of the Mardi Gras,” said Donna Dowless, chairwoman of the Downtown Orlando Arts District. She certainly looked the part, in a lazy, lacy black confection.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was the perfect Southern gentleman in a straw hat and dapper summer suit. Orlando attorney Jim Lussier was debonair, dressy and dreadlocked as a swashbuckling pirate.

Meanwhile, Ron Legler, president of the Florida The-atrical Association, made a loquacious lobster. Or so we thought, until he informed us that he was a crawfish. The daddy crawfish!

All this masquerading was at the heart and soul of La

Shake-ing It UpA QUARTER CENTURY DEVOTED TO THE BARD.

1. Loyal Orlando Shakes supporters celebrate its 25th year

2. University of Central Florida President John Hitt

3. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs

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Maschera, a Mardi Gras-themed, come-as-you-aren’t benefit at The Abbey, that charming theatrical/nightclubby venue near Lake Eola. The event, which featured heavy hors d’oeuvres and the New Orleans jazz music of the Buzz Cats, was the district’s annual fundraising party, with proceeds helping to fund public art, theater and venues in downtown Orlando.

10TH ANNIVERSARY PLAYER’S BALLFresh from his appearance at the 2013 Video Music Awards, ’N Sync alumnus Chris Kirkpatrick joined local on-air per-sonality Jana from XL106.7 to host the 10th annual Player’s Ball benefiting the Bridges of Light Foundation at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando.

Bridges of Light provides mentoring and educational pro-grams for at-risk children in Central Florida. Stacey Papp, Or-lando sweetheart and owner of Bay Hill Jewelers, with stores in Dr. Phillips and Park Avenue, is founder of the charity, and calls on her local celebrity friends to come out and support it.

I never miss a chance to talk with former New York Yankee Johnny Damon, who went to Dr. Phillips High School and still calls Windermere home. He and his wife, Michelle, are regulars at the Players Ball.

I pretty much ran with arms wide open into Creed stars Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall, and got the inside scoop on the fall tour schedule for their other popular band, Alter Bridge.

And of course, no Orlando party is complete without Or-lando Magic Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw on hand.

After the silent auction, the lights went out, music came up and the casino action went on until all hours of the night. Many guests stayed over at the Waldorf and made a weekend of it.

EVENING IN THE GROVE As a native Floridian, I’ve had my fair share of fresh-squeezed lemonade — and the smell of orange blossoms always takes me back to the grove behind my grandmother’s house. So when I walked into the Sheraton Orlando North for the Art & History Museums – Maitland Evening in the Grove Gala, I felt right at home.

Models doubling as “living trees” talked to guests as they walked by, and the rows of orange, lemon and lime tables for the silent auction were neatly planted with over-the-top items.

This unique themed event has been a staple on the fall-ball calendar for years: The A&H honors an individual, family or business that has made a significant, positive impact on Central Florida history. This year the honor went to A. Duda & Sons.

1. Chris Kirkpatrick and Jana from XL 106.7

2. Johnny Damon, Rock Band Creed Alumni Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips, Brian Marshall

3. Stacey Papp, Bridges of Light founder, with husband, Bill

1. Florida Theatrical Association President Ron Legler

2. Downtown Orlando Arts District Chairwoman Donna Dowless

3. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

4. United Arts of Central Florida President/CEO Flora Maria Garcia

5. Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan

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50 ORLANDO LIFE NOVEMBER 2013

Duda has deep roots — literally and figu-ratively — in Central Florida, planting its first celery crop here in 1926 and growing into an international leader in agribusiness.

But it’s also a leader in community in-volvement and, more recently, the pro-motion of healthy lifestyles. Jose Fajar-do, executive vice president at Orlando, Inc. (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce), and Jackie Brockington from Central Florida News 13, made a dynamic duo as emcees and auctioneers.

FLORIDA HOSPITAL TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE 40TH ANIVERSARYLong before the Amway Center and well before the Citrus Bowl — since 1911 to be exact — the Country Club of Or-lando has hosted celebrations for important milestones.

The Florida Hospital Transplant Institute, for example, recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary Gala at the club, with proceeds benefiting the under-construction Transplant House on the shores of Lake Winyah.

This Florida Hospital Orlando facility will serve as a home away from home for patients who are in the area for solid-organ transplants as well as recovery following a ven-tricular assist device implant.

Did you know that Orlando is home to one of the strongest organ-transplant programs in the U.S.? It was no secret to the sold-out room full of surgeons, doctors and community lead-ers who came to honor the Institute’s four decades of service.

I got to spend some time with the innovative team from Ma-zor Robotics, an international robotic-surgery company that recently moved its world headquarters from Israel to Orlando.

I also connected with representatives of JLR Medical Group, an Orlando anesthesiology practice that recently cel-ebrated its 25th anniversary, as well as representatives from Celgene, the multinational biotechnology company. n

Native Floridian Paula Wyatt is an Orlando event planner, social-media expert and entrepreneur whose companies include Posh Able Events, Posh Able Image Builders and the nonprofit Posh Abilities. You can reach her at paula@poshableevents.com.

THERE’S MORE ONLINEUsing your mobile device, scan the QR code or go to orlando-life.com and see more pic-tures and stories from these and other events held throughout Central Florida.

1. Andrea Bailey Cox, Jose Fajardo

2. Maitland Mayor Howard Schiefer-decker and Jolene Schieferdecker, Nikki Seybold, Orange County Commissioner Ted Edwards

3. Jackie Brockington, Duncan DeWahl

4. Stacy and Danny Mello

1. Dr. Joe Warren, Dr. Barbara Czerska, Cheryl Bartch, Kristen Knight

2. Leigh Ann Burgess, Eric Stevens, Dr. Bob Metzger, Dr. Jeanne Day, Dr. Don Jablonski, Dr. Jim Porterfield

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