Chutzpah? Judi Wolf has it and she’s not afraid to use it, especially if it’ll stir things up for the greater good.
Let me explain. Wolf’s passion for the arts is as fiery as her trademark red hair. Also, she has never met a costume party, or an audience, she didn’t like.
The daring diva has shown up in full Cinderella drag for an ultra- formal Cinderella Ball and as a mermaid for the world premiere of “The Little Mermaid.” She found her Prince Charming via walk-on role with the Colorado Ballet; recited (very ably, I might add) tone poems with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra; and lip-synched “Hey, Big Spender” while doing high kicks and soft-shoe in top-hat and fishnet stockings
She plucked a red rose from a table centerpiece and put it between her teeth to guest-conduct the “Toreador Song” from “Carmen” with the National Repertory Orchestra. And in 2007, she played herself when Curious Theater spoofed her life in its “Denver Stories” benefit.
Now Wolf is chairing the NRO’s Summer Gala and in fulfilling a board of directors mandate to take things to the next level, she issued a mandate of her own:
Yes, she informed everyone invited to the deluxe kickoff party hosted by Ernie and Sharon Magness Blake, by all means come and enjoy the champagne and the lemon drop martinis and the shrimp and the salmon en croute that was served alongside a Neiman Marcus fashion show. But only if you commit — for real — to buy a ticket or a table for the June 21 dinner, auction and concert at Seawell Ballroom.
Put less gently: No freeloaders allowed.
“I’m not sure the powers that be thought I was doing the right thing,” Wolf confessed, “but I’m really getting tired of this (ever-expanding) group of people who travel from kickoff to kickoff, take full advantage of the hospitality they are shown, and then disappear when it’s time to buy a ticket, or to volunteer their time.”
As a result, the turnout was a tad smaller than in previous years. But everyone there was a good donor, dependable worker or both.
The crowd included gala co-chair Kalleen and Bob Malone; philanthropist John Sie; Ralph and Anne Klomp of Trice Jewelers; CSO President Doug and Pamela Adams with trustees Kevin Duncan and Barney Schotters; Gary Lutz of presenting sponsor Wells Fargo Bank; Bill and Yvonne McCallum; Mort and Edie Marks; Jim and Judith Ann Bien; Realtor Douglas Kerbs; NRO trustees Jim and Kate Taucher, Libby Bortz and president Bonnie Kirschenbaum; Jean and Joe Hodges; and gala committee members David Alexander, Margaret Cunningham, Electra Falliers, Jean Galloway, Roselyn Saunders and Steve Edmonds.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
