MAX show spins out $120,000 for shelter
From the 6 p.m. champagne welcome to the formal dinner served after a concert in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the Opera Colorado fete was regal and refined, but with the sly edge that comes with an aficianado’s knowledge that opera is neither boring nor stuffy. It’s about romance, drama and diva-esque behavior — all of which occur, sometimes in abundance, on stage and behind the scenes.
The MAX show, a late-night extravaganza at EXDO Event Center to benefit Volunteers of America, summons the wild child in everyone, if only for a night. The place is packed, the music throbs, skirts are short, pants are tight, and the most popular accessory for both sexes seems to be the tattoo. More about each party, below.
Fashion show VIPs were thrilled by a Michael Jackson tribute performed by breakdancer Ray Ray Maestas and graffiti artist Silas “Jolt” Ulibarri before joining others for the runway show and dancing to tunes spun by DJ John Chamie, whose Vivienne Westwood top got as much attention as his music.
The MAX show, with 800 guests, raised $120,000 for the VOA-operated Brandon Center, Colorado’s largest shelter for women with children who are seeking refuge from domestic violence.
Realtor Mandy Nadler and wardrobe consultant Brandis Becky Pelletier planned the event, the eighth that boutique owner Max Martinez has presented for VOA’s Brandon Center. And it won’t be his last, as he plans to return for show No. 9 in 2010.
“We do this for the women and children of Brandon Center; it’s a strong commitment that we have, and we are overwhelmed with joy to be able to do something of substance, something that really matters. Yes, our clothes are beautiful and the show is fun, but in the end it’s all about those women.”
The feeling is definitely mutual. “I know generosity, and I know kindness,” said Jim White, VOA’s director of public affairs and marketing, “and they both exist in Max.” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than the crowd responded with a standing ovation.
Productions as grand as the MAX Show, needless to say, don’t just happen. Nadler and Pelletier coordinated the nitty-gritty stuff — selling tickets, securing sponsors and assigning seats — but, “It took 20 plane rides for us to bring these collections to Denver,” Martinez said. “My partner, Scott Seale, the president of MAX, spent six years getting Bottega Veneta into our stores, and eight years to get Prada.”
And that’s not to mention the work it takes to audition and hire models, dressers, hair and makeup artists; decide on a soundtrack; and make sure each outfit from Celine, Givenchy, Halston, Stella McCartney, L’Wren Scott, Missoni, Diane von Furstenberg and Yves Saint Laurent was pressed and properly accessorized with jewels by Rask.
Next year marks the 25th for the MAX boutiques (Cherry Creek North, Boulder, Aspen and an outlet at 3617 W. 32nd Ave.) and to celebrate, Martinez will do two other big shows: One for the Museum of Contemporary Art and another, featuring Diane von Furstenberg, to benefit Children’s Hospital.
The latter is set for May, and was inspired by the lifesaving care 4-year-old Diana, the daughter of Kevin and Ann Reidy, received after her diagnosis with leukemia.
Ann Reidy was at the VOA show with her mother, Nancy Lake Benson, and a group of friends that will be helping with the Children’s Hospital benefit: Tricia Youssi, Lisza Gulyas, Anne Hanson, Jen Darling, Marylou Houston and Tammy Krause.
Kalleen Malone, incoming chair of the VOA board, was there too, along with president/CEO Dianna Kunz; Denver Broncos wives Danielle Sims, Bridget Orton and Lana Stokley; designer Mikhail Dantes; Lara Merriken of Larabar fame; Virginia Reiman; Ellen Robinson of Argonaut Wine & Liquor; Fox-31’s Peggy Bunker; Drs. Stacey Folk, Adrienne Stewart, Alexis Parker and Gregory Buford; Bryan Pulte; Denise and Brent Snyder; Patti Shyne; 9News entertainment reporter Kirk Montgomery; Chris Meza; Mary Shea; Lois Paul; Jose Mercado and newlyweds Craig and Layne Fleishman; chef Sean Yontz and owner Jesse Morreale, whose Mezcal and Tambien restaurants furnished food for the VIP reception.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
Opera Colorado gala brings out the sparklers
Opera Colorado gala-goers were treated to arias and show tunes that were introduced by former Miss America Lee Meriwether; general director Greg Carpenter said the 300 who attended Gala 2009, chaired by board members Merrill Shields and Bob Swift, helped raise $200,000 for Opera Colorado’s student outreach programs.
Fashion standouts at the opera bash included Arlene Hirschfeld, whose custom-made feather-and- brilliants gown was from Chez Catherine in Toronto; Electra Falliers, in vintage Robert David Morton purchased about 25 years ago from the former Lillie Rubin boutique at the now-gone Cinderella City mall; and Victoria Frank, who’d splurged on a black Thakoon gown “because I knew it would be perfect” with her favorite Swarovski crystal-trimmed Manolo Blahnik stilettos.
Marielena Radecki, a new member of the Opera Colorado board, was in gold Ralph Lauren, and Ellie Caulkins, for whom the opera house is named, chose pale blue Calvin Klein. Chairwoman Shields did Carmen Marc Valvo proud, while her husband, M. Ray Thomasson, accessorized with a silk vest purchased for his birthday from a Burlington Arcade shop in London.
Among the patrons at the opera ball were Kalleen and Bob Malone; Pamela Merrill, widow of company co-founder Nat Merrill; Susan and Jeremy Shamos; Anna and John Sie; Liane and Robert Clasen; Diane and Charlie Gallagher; Susan and Jeff Adams; Debi and Jerry Tepper; Sunny and Norm Brownstein; Nan and Spike Eklund; Joy and Chris Dinsdale; Merle Chambers and Hugh Grant; Steve Sei fert; Ursula and Charles Kafadar; Shirley and Marlis Smith; Margaret Cunningham; Alice and Len Perlmutter; Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake; Martha and Will Tracey; Sue Cannon; and Noel and Tom Congdon.
