It had been a while since the Women’s Guild of the New Orleans Opera Association hosted its Opera Ball, so for event co-chairs Rebeccka Coe and Susan Garic Mitchell it was almost like creating a new event, but one with solid roots to the city.
“Rebeccka and I wanted to pick a New Orleans-themed opera to highlight the return of the ball after a six-year hiatus. New Orleans is the among the first cities (if not the first!) to have opera in the United States and we wanted to remind everyone of our history and connections. ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ was perfect!” says Garic Mitchell.
The party on Oct. 7 embraced the theme, from the invitation to the decor at the Higgins Hotel, where life-sized sets by opera’s Scenic Studios created just the right ambiance. Miniature street lamps with street names which corresponded to donors centered the tables and were decorated with fresh roses, ivy and parrots or Mardi Gras beads.
The night started at the hotel’s Rosie’s on the Roof, where Anaïs St. John entranced guests before they moved to the ballroom for dining and dancing to music from BRW.
The silent auction boasted more than 120 items and a live auction was helmed by Marshall Harris. The top item in the latter was the “priceless” package of two New Orleans Saints Club level tickets, pre-game field passes and parking pass.
Fun Fact: At a Women’s Guild event earlier in the year, Diamonds Direct sponsored a raffle “Deck Yourself in Diamonds” where you could buy a chance to win for you and four friends (five people total) to borrow up to $50,000 jewelry to wear to the Opera Ball. This was won by Guild member and past president Diane Dupin, who generously shared with Karen Weinmann, Camille Santry, Joanne Mantis and Mary Tober.