BY JUDY CARMACK BROSS
The Juliette grand ballroom at LondonHouse seemed the apropos setting for the recent luncheon honoring the Joffrey Ballet’s season-opening production of Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo & Juliet.
More than 300 members of the arts and business community in Chicago and Joffrey Women’s Board members were treated to a discussion of the classic tale, this iteration set in the twentieth century, led by the Joffrey’s Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, and the Chicago Tribune’s Theater Critic Chris Jones. The trio dialogued on the famous star-crossed lovers and how different art forms have captured Shakespeare through the years.
Just as theater and dance took center stage that day, so did fashion—from the stunning decade-spanning costumes featured in the ballet to luncheon co-chairs Kathleen Hensen, Jamie-Clare Colvin and Ellie Forman, all radiant in Maria Pinto. The Chicago designer herself was part of the glamorous audience. Fashion illustrator Kristine Steiner was even on-hand to draw live sketches throughout the event for guests to take home.
Among the other fashionable supporters of the Joffrey that afternoon were Coco Meers, Mary Galvin, Liz Sharp, Kristie Paskvan, Tarrah Cooper, Maureen Schulman, Tina Koegel, Wendy Krimins, Debi Lilly, Jerrilyn Hoffman, and Sandy Deromedi.
Greg Cameron, Kathleen Henson, Ellie Forman, Jamie-Clare Colvin, and Ashley Wheater.
Debi Lilly, Erica Strama, and Amy Vizek.
Brittany Smith, Emily Arch, and Heidi Mitchell.
Fashion Illustrator Kristine Steiner.
Heidy Best, Erica Strama, Debi Lilly, Kathleen Henson, and Tarrah Cooper.
Erica Levin and Laura Cox.
Ashley Wheater leads the riveting discussion.
Mary Galvin and Greg Cameron.
Joan Colmar, Meryl Lyn Moss, and Diana Widman.
Debi Lilly and Shaun Rajah.
Kristin Rivard and Melissa Trandel.
Melissa Babcock and Mitchell Hatcher.
Tarrah Coper and Syreeta Harris.
Ashley Wheater and Greg Cameron.
Monique Hypes, Sonali Lamba, Nicole Staples, Elle Bruno, Coco Meers, Erica Levin, and Laura Cox.
Susanna Homan, Terri Hickey, and Megan Bueschel.
Suzu Neithercut and Noren Ugaretti.
Photo credit:
Steve Becker
