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2007 > June > 07 > Entry
By Michael Barnes
| Thursday, June 7, 2007, 04:55 PM
Fame: It’s been a week for theater parties! First, Shrewd Productions teamed up with members of Dirigo Group, Refraction Arts and Salvage Vanguard to salute departing playwright Dan Dietz, all at the abode of Anne Elizabeth Wynn. Not to be outdone, Mayor Will Wynn hosted a fundraiser for the Rude Mechanicals on his City Hall balcony. Board member Mark Holzbach sent us the following snaps, before we headed out for the party launching Salvage Vanguard’s new warehouse theater.
Artists Shawn Sides, Graham Reynolds, Lana Lesley
Actor Jason Liebrecht and balcony crowd
Austin Museum of Art director Dana Friis-Hansen and balcony crowd
Gallery owner David Berman and Holzbach
Names in the News: And now for a lot of catching up on how Fortunates — and potential Fortunates — made news this week. I lost track of some news threads because the spreadsheet file I was using crashed. Here are some highlights.
Of course the biggest celebrity news of the week — and a terribly kept secret — was the performance by
Prince at the Belmont party for Super Fortunates
John McHale and
Chris Mattson. We heard harrowing stories about bullied journalists at the exclusive event, but we don’t blame John or Chris. Our invitation was clearly lost in the mail. … Las Manitas owners
Cynthia and
Lidia Perez, who know how to play the system, appeared front and center more than one day this week, as the city chews on a possible forgiveable loan to their well-populated eatery. (For some quotes from my neighbor Cynthia that never made it in other publications, go to the Texas Monthly article on the negotiations between the Perezes and their landlord. Telling.) …
Elizabeth Challener was selected to take the place of
Ann Ciccolella as managing director of Zachary Scott Theatre. We hear Ann is up for the corresponding job at Austin Lyric Opera.
Go-getter Steve Sisson, “supercoach” of the UT women’s track & field/cross-country programs, was honored by Runner’s World magazine. … Austin entrepreneur Kent Savage is behind FameCast, the talent site that hit the Internet running and earned startup capital from Austin Ventures. … Harlan Beverly is also stepping up with his Bigfoot program to streamline online gaming. … Gustavo Monsante has anchored his KAKW newscasts into second place, a big win for the local Univision channel.
We would have been shocked if Brad Buchholz had not done a tender, beautiful job on his Page 1 profile of departing Hippie Hour singer
Toni Price. … We missed the gay pride parade this year, but it looks like City Council members
Mike Martinez and
Lee Leffingwell were up front and center. Good to see them reaching out. … Political power players
Ted and
Diedre Delisa — perennial Fortunates — have brought twins into the world. … More on the political front: Expect Democrat presidential hopeful
John Edwards in town Tuesday, raising $$$ at Scholz Garten. … The Biscuit Brothers (aka
Allen Robertson and
Jerome Schoolar) as well as everywhere-singer
Sara Hickman played starring roles in Joe Gross’ great story on genre-busting music for kids. … The showdown between Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission critic
Howard Wolf and Sen.
Ken Brimer is one to watch, since the deeply flawed agency appears to remain putty in the hands of big-money liquor distributors and such. Somebody’s gonna tell a heck of a back story someday.
The baseball draft may include several Central Texans, including Connally High’s
Kevin Keyes, Horns’ standouts
Adrian Alaniz,
Kyle Russell and
Bradley Suttle, as well as high schoolers from Georgetown and Round Rock. … Poet
Sharon Bridgforth and dance leaders
Yakov Sharir and
Jose Luis Bustamante were subjects of doting profiles in XL, while I learned volumes about University of Texas provost
Steven Leslie in a Page 1 bio that emphasizes his personal/professional balancing act. … A salute to
Pamela Boyar, whose Sunset Valley Farmers Market, probably the best in Central Texas, celebrates its 10th anniversary this week.
Fallen Fortunate: Former City Manager Dan Davidson died Wednesday. Services will be held 10 a.m. Friday at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church.
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