Jacob’s Pillow Opening Night Delights
Amy Krzanik reports from Becket. The big night had finally arrived, and the sold-out Jacob's Pillow crowd couldn't have been more pleased. Well, it could have been a few degrees warmer, but the Festival's leafy grounds are beautiful in any weather. The June 14 gala welcomed dance fans to the 2014 season with a performance by Pillow School dancers, choreographed by Jessica Lang in only four days. The Hong Kong Ballet followed, with a performance of The Frog Prince - A Ballet Chinois (complete with human frog). This year's Jacob's Pillow Dance Award went to John Heginbotham, who performed a one-minute piece he choreographed especially for the occasion. A short live auction led by Board chairman Mark Leavitt raised funds for dance school scholarships and the many free performances and talks the Pillow puts on throughout the season. The soon-to-be-retiring Trey McIntyre Project gave an athletic performance of Bad Winter that included a heart-wrenching duet which left the silent crowd in awe. Dance legend Carmen de Lavallade closed the show with an excerpt from The Creation, set against lush foliage seen through the open doors of the Ted Shawn Theatre. Guests made their way toward the tent, which was the scene of much mingling of old friends and new, as well as a gourmet meal from The Old Inn on The Green, and celebratory dancing to DJ BFG to end the night. Shown above: Board President Chris Jones, board member Hunter Runnette and Mimi Bradley, director of development.
Charles Mirotznik, Esq. and dancer Carmen De Lavallade; Ray Despres, the Pillow's General Manager Connie Chin, Steve Glick and Diana Felber.
Marge Champion, who's celebrating her 95th birthday this year, with Jim Bouton and Nancy Kalodner; Williamstown Theatre Festival's Eric Kerns and Molly Kerns.
Tony Chojnowski and Joe Goodwin with Margaret Lively Frazzini and Al Frazzini; Jeanie Heginbotham, proud mom, and her son, 2014 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award winner John Heginbotham.
Gala co-chairs Jim and Joan Hunter with Tracy and Joe Finnegan.
Clifton Brown, choreographer Jessica Lang and board member Carole Burack; Dennis Lee and Peggy Tong, CEO of the San Diego Chinese Tribune.
The always impeccably dressed Liz Richards and RI's green thumb, Brian Cruey; Gallerist Sienna Patti, Vicki Bonnington and David Schecker.
Alan Chartock and Roselle Chartock with Claudio Pincus and Penny Pincus; Mark Vanden Bosch and Alison Hart, the Pillow's senior manager of individual gifts.
Matt Mandel, Catherine Mandel, Weston Hicks, Ann Hicks and Arnold Cohen.
Allison Salke, Michael Salke and Joan Salke; Paul Cheung, Andrea Winter, Daniel Mintz and Clement C.M. Leung.
Carole and Gordon Hyatt with Charles Mirotznik, Esq. and board member Ranny Cooper; Hilary Somers Deely and Philip Deely.
Mike Kaplan, whose poster collection is on display in Blake's Barn, and Norton Owen, the Pillow's director of preservation; Charmaine Jefferson, executive V.P. of the California African American Museum, Bobbi Paley and Garrett Johnson.
Matt and Missy Scarafoni, Sienna Patti, Joe Kotelnicki, and animator Leo Quiles; Donald Barron and fibre artist Barbara Barron.
The scene inside the tent.
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