Rob Giardinelli
Fundraising Records Were Broken With $1.4 Million Night
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Wilson Parish and Jacob Power
THE SCENE: The Gordy in Houston was the setting for a record-breaking fundraising night for one of Houston’s most beloved artistic organizations. Over 350 of Space City’s most notable art patrons, community leaders, sociables, and philanthropists turned out for the 2025 Stages Houston Gala at the Gordy. The night honored Denise Fennell and Charles Walker in a million-dollar night that took this beloved annual event to the next level.
and Gwen Watkins
THE VIBE: The black-tie and rhinestone attire had guests donning an eclectic array of looks. In the crowd, one could spot traditional black-tie, classic ball gowns, sequins, Texas ties, and cowboy hats. The result was a festive, welcoming environment for all who attended.
The festivities began in the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Lobby for a cocktail hour. Revelers could be seen cozying up to the bar to grab a handcrafted specialty cocktail or their favorite spirit. During cocktail hour, many could be seen mingling while others perused the impressive lot of silent auction items and previewed the upcoming live auction items later in the evening.
The action then moved to the dazzling, glittering tent on the Brown Foundation Lawn for dinner and the main program. Upon entering the tent, revelers were treated to a custom hat bar activation where partygoers could create custom hats with bedazzlements of their choosing.
Bergner and Johnson Design created a beautiful space complete with mirrored disco balls and chandeliers, accented with silver and gold sequins. This perfectly complemented the tables with black and gold tablecloths and linens that popped against a beautiful palette of floral arrangements featuring roses, hydrangeas, tulips, and snapdragons. All this gave the entire space an elevated, Western-themed ambiance. Guests then took to their seats to dine on a delectable, multi-course meal courtesy of City Kitchen.
The program included words from the organization and event leaders thanking them for participating in a very special evening. The program also included a performance by the cast of Das Barbecü, which was the inspiration for this year’s gala theme. During the program, Sally Edmundson also honored her collaborator, performer Denise Fennell, for her artistic contributions to Stages Houston over the years. George C. Lancaster awarded Charles Walker with the Theodore Swindley Award for Visionary Leadership for his tireless
Next, paddles went up during a spirited live auction for a fabulous array of curated, luxury experiences. The most popular items included a weekend stay at Glenda and Russell Gordy’s Ranch in Montana with celebrities from Yellowstone and Landman, including Landman star Billy Bob Thornton, and tickets to Elton John’s Academy Awards party in Los Angeles. After the program was completed, revelers imbibed on passed tequila shots as the after-party was getting started. The night was capped off with everyone cutting a rug on the dancefloor to the tunes of Doppelganger Band.
Jaycee Wolff and Allison Wolff
THE NON-PROFIT: The 2025 Stages Houston Gala at the Gordy was chaired by Myrtle Jones, with George C. Lancaster serving as honorary chair. The event raised a record-breaking $1.4 million for Stages Houston, which will provide funding for Stages Houston‘s artistic and educational initiatives.
