- April 26, 2024
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When Nate Met Melba
Sometimes it pays to break the rules — as Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe founder Nate Jacobs did 16-or-so years ago when he snuck through a rope line to meet singer Melba Moore. It turned out that a mutual acquaintance had just told her that Nate was an up-and-comer she should meet. A remarkable friendship ensued over the years, and Moore has been a source of emotional and financial support for Nate and his troupe. She came to town to perform for their annual fundraiser Nov. 19, at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. Not only did she wow the crowd, she was, by all reports, friendly and gracious, even standing by the exit chatting and posing for photos as people left. Audrey Coleman and Kitty Cranor co-chaired this year’s Broadway under the Stars event, which presented a Heart and Soul Philanthropy Award to Gerri Aaron and Marvin Albert for their leadership and financial support. In the crowd: WBTT board chair Marian Moss, WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach with husband Brock, Scott Anderson, Veronica Brady, Frank and Jaclyn Brunckhorst, Clemmie and James Cash, Norbert Donelly, Roxie Jerde, Donald and Doris Johnson, Ambassador James Joseph and Mary Braxton-Joseph, William and Elizabeth Johnston and Kelley Lavin.
Raising the Roof
Chair Kimberly Bleach made certain that Equality Florida was ready for the rain with tents aplenty atop the Palm Avenue garage for its annual event Nov. 21. The organization presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Mary Bonauto, the lawyer who successfully argued for marriage equality at the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year, and a Voice for Equality Award to Michael Donald Edwards, the producing artistic director of the Asolo Rep. BT first covered this event in 2011, reporting that the 250 guests were nearly twice as many as the prior year. This year, the count was 400. Dennis Stover, a handsome presence at all their events, deemed the increase a reflection that the LGBT organization is developing “a much broader base of mainstream support.” Spotted in the crowd: Peter Amster, Jan Chester, Warren and Margo Coville, Frank Galati, Scott George and John Mason, Ron and Rita
Greenbaum, Michael and Ruth Harshman, Marilyn Harwell, Debbie and Larry Haspel, Joe Holt and Paco Martinez, Christine Jennings, Carol Phillips, Ayse Sommers and Mary Lou and Ed Winnick.
Sign of the Times
It seems to be an issue at virtually every event: Getting the audience to hush so that presenters and honorees can be heard. The Equality Florida Suncoast Celebration 2015 planned for it in advance and recruited Jim Martin to get the message across.
Tidbits
Belated big birthday … Nikki Nilon summers in Chicago and celebrated her 80th there with 40 family and friends
at the Tortoise Club Sept. 17. She partied again in Sarasota Nov. 18 when friend Renée Sheade treated her to lunch at Michael’s On East ... Betty on the ball … she may be 98, but she sure doesn’t look it. More than one youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs event that honored Betty Schoenbaum and her late husband, Alex, commented, “She can’t be that old … she is beautiful.” She is also sharp as a tack and didn’t hesitate to set the record straight when one of the speakers had her age at 97 and undercounted the restaurants in the chain her husband founded. The correct numbers are 98 and 2,016, respectively.
Black Tie Affair
'An Evening at the Moulin Rouge' Annual Style Show and Gala Dinner
Benefiting Designing Women Boutique
Sunday, Dec. 6
5:30 p.m. at Michael’s On East
Tickets $250
Call 366-5293
