www.tuts.com
THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
LEADING LADIES LUNCHEON 2022
TUTS LEADING LADIES LUNCHEON
HONORS CISSY SEGALL DAVIS
AND RAISED OVER $100,000
THE SOLD-OUT SOIREE CELEBRATED HOUSTON’S VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY
TUTS Artistic Director Dan Knechtges, 2022 Leading Ladies Luncheon chair June Deadrick, 2022 Shirley Stein Outstanding Champion in the Arts and Education honoree Cissy Segall Davis, and TUTS Executive Director Hillary Hart
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Houston, TX - Theatre Under The Stars hosted the Leading Ladies Luncheon on April 22,
2022 at Houston’s renowned Tony’s Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue. The event honored Cissy Segall Davis with the Shirley Stein Outstanding Champion in the Arts and Education Award for her extensive work in the arts community in Houston.
“Cissy has been a champion for and has helped shape many Houston arts institutions, including TUTS,” said Hillary Hart, TUTS Executive Director. “We are delighted to honor her passionate work in the Houston arts community.”
The sold-out luncheon raised over $100,000 benefiting barrier-breaking programming at TUTS, the most ever raised for this event. During the program, awards for Arts Educator of the Year and Volunteer of the Year were also given to Melanie Bivens and Dawn Neal respectively.
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
The luncheon was emceed by Christina Wells and featured performances from the upcoming TUTS Musical Theatre Academy production of Into The Woods from student performers Mabyn Coleman and Haley Griffin. Along with the entertainment and awards ceremony, the event featured a silent auction and champagne raffle for a beautiful necklace from J. Landa. The 2021 Leading Ladies Luncheon was chaired by June Deadrick and honorary chairs, Council Member Sallie Alcorn and Dr. Teddy McDavid.
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
TUTS Advisory Board member Donna Vallone with TUTS Artistic Director Dan Knechtges and Executive Director Hillary Hart. Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony Vallone's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
"I am ecstatic to celebrate one of the strongest supporters of the performing arts in our community – Cissy Segall Davis – and our two community awardees,” said June Deadrick, chair of the event. “It's been an honor to chair this event, which raises money to help provide opportunities for young people in our community to experience, as well as train in, musical theater with Theatre Under The Stars, an organization which I'm proud to support!".
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Notable attendees included: Sofia Adrogue, Elaine Balagia Croucher, Kristen Cannon, ThuyLan Chang, Grace Givens, Leisa Holland Nelson Bowman, Demetra Jones, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Robin Klaes, Connie Kwan-Wong, Jay Landa, Sneha Merchant, Miriam Meyers, Amy Pierce, Kristina Somerville, Brad and Robin Stein, The Honorable Kristi Thibaut, and Ileana Treviño.
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
TUTS Leading Ladies are a dynamic group of women with a shared passion for musical theatre. They are committed to Theatre Under The Stars Education and Community Engagement efforts through volunteering, fundraising and hosting exclusive events for Houston’s most ardent performing arts advocates.
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022.
Biographies
Cissy Segall Davis has shaped the arts in Houston for the past 50 years. She is
Managing Director of the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, providing free
artistically excellent and culturally diverse entertainment eight months a year.
Under her guidance, the series has grown into the largest program of its kind in
the U.S. Through service on the Board of Directors and as Managing Director in
the 1980s and 1990s, she also shaped the future of Theatre Under The Stars.
Cissy is on the Board of Directors of Texans for the Arts and was named as one
of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women by Houston Woman’s Magazine in 2012.
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Melanie Bivens is an active educator and music director throughout the
Houston-area and world-wide, including International Leadership of Texas,
Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, Houston Mass Choir, The Ensemble Theatre,
Stages, Kinder HSPVA, and more. She is known for her dynamic music workshops as
she inspires musicians, singers, and church leaders to pursue their passions. In
2021, she was honored with the Communication Excellence Award from the National
Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing.
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Dawn Neal is a chemical engineer dedicated to volunteering and participating in
the arts. She is a founder and supporting partner of The JETPAC, which is a
performing arts studio in the Clear Lake area, where she serves as production
manager for all of the musicals and various other performances. Dawn is also a
Leading Lady and enjoys participating and volunteering in TUTS outreach
programs, including volunteering with The River with her daughter Riley, a
student at HSMT.
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
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Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
THEATRE UNDER THE STARS (“TUTS”) - (Dan Knechtges, Artistic
Director; Hillary J Hart, Executive Director) - Founded by Frank M. Young in
1968, Houston’s non-profit home for musical theatre, is dedicated to enriching
lives through innovative musical theatre, inclusive educational curriculums and
dynamic community engagement. For more information, visit tuts.com.
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
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Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022
Theatre Under the Stars' Leading Ladies Luncheon at Houston's renowned Tony's
Italian Restaurant on Richmond Avenue on April 22, 2022