Standing Ovation

Bravo gala draws applause + nearly half a million dollars for Dallas arts

Surrounded by a backdrop of twinkling lighted trees, the glowing red Winspear Opera House threw open its doors for more than 250 guests on November 18 for the AT&T Performing Arts Center's annual Bravo! Gala.

These arts-loving patrons were on hand to celebrate the Center's education and community engagement initiatives, plus programming that ranges from touring Broadway shows to its five resident companies.

Dallas Theater Center, Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Texas Ballet Theater each had their moment to shine with individual performances staged in the lobby and mezzanine during cocktail hour.

Once inside the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall, the black tie-clad guests ascended onto the stage itself for a decadent seated dinner of herb-crusted tenderloin filet and truffled Yukon whipped potatoes.

A specially composed tribute to Cher, in a nod to the upcoming December 14-16 tour stop of The Cher Show at the Winspear, played while the iconic chandelier retracted into the ceiling.

The Dallas Opera performed while the crowd dined on a dessert of dulce de leche caramel cheesecake.

A surprise performance from 101 Dalmatians featuring "puppies" from Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy garnered the loudest applause of the night.

Bravo! Gala co-chairs Diane Brierley and Ellen Winspear welcomed the Center's supporters and introduced the night's honorees, the Moody Foundation.

Jamie Williams and Kristina Whitcomb from the Moody Foundation joined prominent guests Deedie Rose, Barbara Thomas Lemmon, Grace Cook (Eugene McDermott Foundation), Matt Hickey (AT&T), Brendan McGuire and Amber Scanlan (PNC), and board chair Danny Tobey.

Several Dallas arts and culture leaders were also recognized, including Councilmember Paul Ridley, Councilmember Chad West, State Representative John Bryant, Benjamin Espino, assistant director of the City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture; David Small, chair of the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee; and Lily Weiss, executive director of the Dallas Arts District.

Critically acclaimed alternative band Lake Street Dive then took the stage, enthralling guests with their hits "Good Kisser" and "Better Than," among others.

More than $437,000 was raised during the starry night, which will partially go to help build sustainable musical theater programs in Dallas schools.

Photo by Turk Turkyilmaz

The Dallas Opera performed during dessert.

Fundraising fun

Dallas’ Night at the Museum gala brings in $2M for Perot programs

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez

On Saturday, November 8, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science opened its doors, after hours, for one of Dallas’ most anticipated galas of fall: Night at the Museum.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez

Led by co-chairs Shelly and Michael Dee in honor of Sally and Forrest Hoglund, the 2025 Night at the Museum immersed guests in a science-y wonderland of interactive exhibits, fun cocktails, unique cuisine, and more.

Guests agreed: The couldn't-miss highlight of the evening was the 10-Minute Restaurant, which transformed the museum gift shop into a five-star culinary adventure by Wolfgang Puck Catering, reminiscent of how they serve celebrities at the Oscars. Amid all the night's action, it was a great way to sneak in a quick bite and some one-on-one time with a date in a VIP-like setting.

Attendees also noshed from a Living Crudité Bar, an Off the Bone beef station, a paella station, enjoyed "roaming tiramisu," and stopped servers in their tracks for the famous Night at the Museum pot pies. No one went thirsty, either, as guests sipped creative cocktails like Sorbete de Sangria de Cava and the sparkling “Aqua Pearl,” enjoyed a 196 Vodka Seltzer Bar, and a refueled at a coffee cart that opened at the after-party.

Guests got to dig like paleontologists at the Paleo Lab, ooh and ahh at the sparking Aquamarine on the display in the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall, and learn all about little creepy-crawlies in the Bug Lab Exhibit. Another favorite activity was the Iris Photography, which turned photos of the human eye into works of art.

In total, the crowd of "after-hours scientists" raised $2 million to help fund field trips, outreach, discounted admission and memberships to the Perot, and more.

Among the notable attendees were Margot Perot, Dr. Linda Silver, Marilynn Thoma, Carl Thoma, Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez, David and Mary Henderson, Katie and Jerome Rose, Lyda Hill, Cade McCarter, DeWitt McCarter, Kelly Compton, Kenna McCarter, John Sughrue, Marlene Sughrue, Kate and Steve Sigfusson, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart, Grace Cook, Laura Compton, Angus Mitchell, Rachel Mitchell, Martine and Michael Philippe, and many more patrons and supporters.

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