-- Ochsner held the Imagination Gala at Mardi Gras World. Ochsner Imagination Gala, May 21, 2022 -- Jenny Longwell, Riley Kennedy

-- Ochsner held the Imagination Gala at Mardi Gras World. Ochsner Imagination Gala, May 21, 2022 -- Ashby Navarro, Miles Clements, Meredith Claiborne

-- Ochsner held the Imagination Gala at Mardi Gras World. Ochsner Imagination Gala, May 21, 2022 -- Warner Thomas, Nicole Gonzales, Dr. Billy Lennarz

-- Ochsner held the Imagination Gala at Mardi Gras World. Ochsner Imagination Gala, May 21, 2022 -- David and Elizabeth Grimes, Dr. Erika and Dr. Charles Barrett Smith

-- The Famous G Club held a ball at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Famous G Ball, June 10, 2022 -- Sylvester Johnson, Deidre Hayes, Takira Johnson, Judge Calvin Johnson

-- The Famous G Club held a ball at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Famous G Ball, June 10, 2022 -- Keith and Ada Lampkin, Victor Sawyer

-- The Famous G Club held a ball at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Famous G Ball, June 10, 2022 -- Ynez and Alphonse Bevins, Elyse Harrison

-- The Famous G Club held a ball at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Famous G Ball, June 10, 2022 -- Michael and Edra Harris

Shakespeare festival at Tulane: “Henry”- Haydee Dennard, James Cahn ORG XMIT: NO.ShakespearefestivalatTulane:"Henry".io.adv

Shakespeare festival at Tulane: “Henry”- Burton Tedesco, Monica R. Harris, Graham Burk ORG XMIT: NO.ShakespeareFestivalatTulane:"Henry".io.adv

Shakespeare festival at Tulane: “Henry”- Martin Sachs, Cassie Worley, Mike Harkins, Kathryn Leigh Nathan ORG XMIT: NO.ShakespeareFestivalatatTulane:"Henry".io.adv

Shakespeare festival at Tulane: “Henry”- Matthew Raetz, Silas Cooper, Jake Bartush ORG XMIT: NO.ShakespeareFestivalatTulane:"Henry".io.adv

-- Ochsner held the Imagination Gala at Mardi Gras World. Ochsner Imagination Gala, May 21, 2022 -- Jenny Longwell, Riley Kennedy

-- Ochsner held the Imagination Gala at Mardi Gras World. Ochsner Imagination Gala, May 21, 2022 -- Ashby Navarro, Miles Clements, Meredith Claiborne

-- Ochsner held the Imagination Gala at Mardi Gras World. Ochsner Imagination Gala, May 21, 2022 -- Warner Thomas, Nicole Gonzales, Dr. Billy Lennarz

-- Ochsner held the Imagination Gala at Mardi Gras World. Ochsner Imagination Gala, May 21, 2022 -- David and Elizabeth Grimes, Dr. Erika and Dr. Charles Barrett Smith

-- The Famous G Club held a ball at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Famous G Ball, June 10, 2022 -- Sylvester Johnson, Deidre Hayes, Takira Johnson, Judge Calvin Johnson

-- The Famous G Club held a ball at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Famous G Ball, June 10, 2022 -- Keith and Ada Lampkin, Victor Sawyer

-- The Famous G Club held a ball at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Famous G Ball, June 10, 2022 -- Ynez and Alphonse Bevins, Elyse Harrison

-- The Famous G Club held a ball at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Famous G Ball, June 10, 2022 -- Michael and Edra Harris

Shakespeare festival at Tulane: “Henry”- Haydee Dennard, James Cahn ORG XMIT: NO.ShakespearefestivalatTulane:"Henry".io.adv

Shakespeare festival at Tulane: “Henry”- Burton Tedesco, Monica R. Harris, Graham Burk ORG XMIT: NO.ShakespeareFestivalatTulane:"Henry".io.adv

Shakespeare festival at Tulane: “Henry”- Martin Sachs, Cassie Worley, Mike Harkins, Kathryn Leigh Nathan ORG XMIT: NO.ShakespeareFestivalatatTulane:"Henry".io.adv

Shakespeare festival at Tulane: “Henry”- Matthew Raetz, Silas Cooper, Jake Bartush ORG XMIT: NO.ShakespeareFestivalatTulane:"Henry".io.adv

Mardi Gras World was the site for the night when the inaugural Imagination Gala, benefitting Ochsner Hospital for Children, occurred with “whimsical cocktail attire” as the suggested dress. Cocktails, cuisine, games and entertainment by Jessie’s Girls were the come-ons. And folks flocked to the venue, Mardi Gras World, for the bash co-chaired by Elizabeth Grimes and Dr. Erika Smith, pediatric gastroenterology at Ochsner Hospital for Children, who extended special gratitude to their committee. Particular thanks tapped Ochsner Health Foundation board member Norris and Bob Williams for the entertainment, patron party sponsor Winn-Dixie, Woodward Design + Build for the décor, and other generous sponsors who made this inaugural event possible.

Teamed for the décor were Sparkle and Swag, Mardi Gras Productions, and Element, while Dickie Brennan and Co. purveyed with fine food and drink, Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans and the above Jessie’s Girls entertained, and the Kendra Scott Color Bar invited creativity. Games added more fun.

In addition to the above Imagination Gala co-chairs Elizabeth and Erika, attending with spouses David Grimes and Dr. Charles Barrett Smith, headliners included Ochsner Health President and CEO Warner Thomas with Rene Doucet, along with other OH notables, such as Michael Hulefeld, Scott Posecai with spouse Jackie, David Gaines with Millie, and Shon Baker.

Through extensive generosity, the gala raised nearly $400,000 for patients and programs of Ochsner Hospital for Children.

Mingling, too, were Ochsner Health Foundation Board Chairman Miles Clement, the above Williamses, Ken Flower of Woodward Design + Build, Dr. Billy Lennarz of Ochsner Hospital for Children, Nicole Gonzales of Ochsner Medical Center, and countless others from the Imagination Gala committee of 51 and their guests. Quite a few followed the suggested dress for the bash, “Whimsical Cocktail Attire.”

With the theme of “Perseverance, Great Works are performed not by Strength but by Perservance,” homage tapped the Famous G Club, which held forth festively at its 92nd ball in the Grand Salon of the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel and welcomed new members Alphonse Bevins, Michal Harris, Sylvester K. Johnson, Keith Lampkin, and Victor W. Sawyer III.

Denise Spellman, wife of event co-chair Gerald Spellman, created the gold letter G centerpieces that were accented by a top hat and miniature cane and placed atop sparkling green table runners on embossed tablecloths. Chandeliers in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom added lovely illumination as the formally-clad attendees enjoyed beverages, roast beef and smoked ham carving stations, a charcuterie board, and bread pudding.

Mistress of ceremonies Elyse Harrison presented the call out, adding a special fun fact about each member. Participating as Famous G members were Keith Lampkin and spouse Ada Goodly Lampkin, Victor W. Sawyer III with Deidra Johnson, Sylvester K. Johnson and Takira, Michael Harris with Edra, Al Bevins with Ynez, Tracy Dickerson with Michele Burnett, James Williams with Debra Montrell, Hon. Calvin Johnson and wife Dr. Deidra Hayes, and, as officers, Mike Dianda with Lynette Howard, co-ball chairmen Michael Roussell and Gerald Spellman with Jami and the above Denise, Carl V. Williams with Karen Walker, Vice President Gary Lewis with Greta, and President Darryl Harrison with Eurydice Bush-Harrison. Kenneth Lawson answers to financial/recording secretary.

Guests of the club were Jennifer Stamps, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Jaques, Mance and Marva Tutt, Theodore and Charlene Sanders, Greg and Velma Clincy, the Anthony Johnsons, Faye Turk, Melissa Peyton, Elvin and Faye Martin, Carolyn Covington, and Lydia Robichaux. Kamryn Stamps, James Williams III, Kendra Jones and Taylor Dickerson were college scholarship recipients.

Dancing was to the festive fore with the sounds of Clark Knighten and 4X4 Connection Band, later joined by vocalist Rachel Cook, commanding musical attention. Described as “brilliant,” the mono-named band member Wiz’s guitar performance of Prince’s “Purple Rain” closed out a set. One of the evening’s highlights was the impromptu soul train line that elicited good spirited laughter and smiles.

A standing ovation was the adulatory order of the evening at the opening night celebration of The New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane’s “Henry IV, Part 1.” It was directed by Burton Tedesco, who was joined by spouse Marjorie, and starred Silas Cooper as the eponymous King Henry, Jake Bartush as Prince Henry “Hal,” Mike Harkins as Falstaff, and, as Hotspur, Brittany N. Williams. The festival’s advisory board chair Cassie Steck Worley did double duty as Mistress Quickly.

Compliments flowed to the above and others closely involved with the Shakespearean show during the post-party held in the lobby of Tulane’s Lupin Theater. Noted were Rob Worley with flowers for wife Cassie; Clare Moncrief, an advisory board member, and recently retired, after 23 years, as the festival’s managing director and oftentimes acclaimed actor; longtime board member Marie Cahn with husband James “Jimmy;” and board member Kathryn Nathan, whose late father, Max Nathan Jr., a lawyer and lover of Shakespeare, was honored and memorialized in the festival’s printed program. The 29th season of the TU Shakespeare Festival is dedicated to his memory.

Festival staff included artistic director Martin Sachs, managing director Graham Burk, operations manager Nancy Gunn and several others. The production staff numbered eight.

Among those noted were Juan Barona from the emeritus board with Bob Phillips, Joel Derby, Julie Schwam Harris, Jon Christopher Brown and Mary Ellen Burns, Angela C. O’Malley, Jim Amoss with daughter Sophie, Eddie and Malise Dennard with daughter Haydée, James Theis and Patricia Jackson, James Bartelle (who has often trod the theater’s boards to great ovation) and Jamie Montelepre, Robert Lyall, Julian Wheatley and Marjorie Nolan-Wheatley, the Rev. Jane-Allison Wiggin, Royal Patrons (as were others) Arthur and Caroline Lavender Nead, Bernard Jaffe, Cat Landrum, Errol and Peggy Scott Laborde, and dozens more.

Black Pearl Catering fed the post-show flock, who held drinks with “Keep Calm and Shake Speare”– scripted paper napkins and made beelines to the savory spread that included grilled mushroom cheesecake (a crowd favorite), praline popcorn, hard salami, watermelon, and, among the cheeses, Maytag blue and English cheddar. Mingling with the crowd were a number of the actors, including Monica Harris (Worcester), who “was happy to be back with The Bard this summer.” So were scores more.

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