Over the years DIFFA Dallas has had a reputation for hit-‘em-out-of-the-park galas. Some made Las Vegas productions look positively amateurish; some bordered on being a tad bit raunchy with Dita Von Teese-types playfully lounging in gigantic martini glasses; and a couple were a bit on the bizarre side. But every one of them was the product of a volunteer team working with professionals to raise funds for HIV/AIDS service organizations in North Texas.
Last year’s dinner wasn’t so much a home run as it was a base hit. But that was to be expected in some ways. After all, it was a move to a new venue — Omni Dallas Hotel— and it was a different production team that took chances with a double runway. On the good side, the guests had a great time donning masks. On the not-so-good side, the fashion show was split in a two-parter with the live auction in between. Unfortunately, some guests thought the party was over when the auction started and left without seeing fashion show Part II.
Chuck Steelman
Clint Bradley and Anne and Steve Stodghill
To bring back the luster to the fundraiser for its 25th anniversary gala, DIFFA Dallas Chair Clint Bradley and his committee decided to try to combine old with new. They recruited Neiman’s PR man Chuck Steelman to head up the gala, brought back Brian Brothers and Planet productions along with past event chair Rhonda Sargent Chambers to produce the big show and stayed put at the Omni Dallas.
For the namedropping factor, they scored Anne and Steve Stodghill as honorary co-chairs, as well as the DIFFA Dallas legends (Simona Beal, Gillian Breidenbach, Don Gaiser, Rebecca Hallam, David Kiger, Matrice Kirk and Joe Pacetti), Style Council Ambassadors (Jenna Alexander, Jennifer Patterson Clark, Norm Johnson, Debra Nelson, Scott Kehn, Ralph Randall, Shayne Robinson, Jody Stein and Patrick Ware) and DIFFA Dallas Awards (Community Hero Scott Pharr, Legacy of Love Karen and Bill Seanor, Health Award Dr. Mark Tribble of Upton Physicians, Excellence in Design Bruce Wood and Legend in the Fight Against AIDs Greg Haynes Johnson).
Greg Haynes Johnson, Summer Nilsson, Scott Pharr and Omar Esparza
Even the weather worked out. As other events had fallen victim to late winter storms, Saturday, March 7, was right up there—perfect—for House of DIFFA No. 25.
Roel Cruz, Ron Corning, Shane Allen and Mitchell West
Alexa Conomos and Bradley Anderson
Jhonathan Arreola, Pedro Alcantara, Stephen MacMillan Moser and Christian Iles
For the cocktail reception, the Trinity Ballroom Lobby was bustling as a couple of thousand people posed for photos against the Celebrity Cruise staging and the DIFFA Dallas backdrop on one side of the room and checked out the silent auction across the way. John Clutts scurried through the crowd worried that he might miss his cue in the rehearsal in the ballroom…Veronika Nicholson revealed that her sister Franziska Nicholson had once again designed her outfit…First-timers WFAA’s Alexa Conomos and restaurateur Bradley Anderson were impressed with the looks of the evening…Matthew Simon was in town from Atlanta and told friends like Jeff Mitchell that his husband Keith Schumann was doing nicely after a major heart attack…Austin blogger/personality Stephen MacMillan Moser posed for a photo with Jhonathan Arreola, Pedro Alcantara and Christian Iles and admitted afterwards that after surviving a death-defying disease, he was embracing and celebrating life and supporting efforts for lifesaving programs like DIFFAA…Anne and Steve Stodghill checked out the auction items and were disappointed that most appeared to be designed for a size 1…Speaking of designer looks, Carlos Nicholls wore one of his own creations a jacket reading “Dream Love” on the back…Looking at the sea of tuxedoes, Paige McDaniel giggled, “The great thing about this is, the line at the ladies’ room isn’t that long!”
Dream Love
Eventually the doors to the ballroom opened and it was a total revamp from the previous year. Instead of the u-configuration staging, it was a single runway that stopped two-thirds of the way. On both ends of the ballroom were stages. One was connected to the catwalk and served as the main stage for the presentations of VIP’s and entry for the models. On the opposite wall was a satellite stage for “pop-up dancers.”
Don Gaiser
Gillian Breidenbach
Debra Nelson
After the crowd finally took their place, the program commenced starting with a performance by the Turtle Creek Chorale, followed by the introduction of the VIP’s. Scene-stealing Don Gaiser spread his arms to show off the shimmering, silver lining of his full-length black cape. Debra Nelson smiled and silently prayed she wouldn’t trip. Gillian Breidenbach aimed fingers to her buds (Carol Reed, Chris Heinbaugh, Nancy Lieberman, Todd Fiscus, a blonde Ceron and Troy Schiermeyer) at the stage-side table. Rebecca Hallam had an escort because of a faulty ankle.
Monica Pedersen
Next up auctioneer Louis Murad escorted HGTV’s Monica Pedersen on stage. The tall, blonde beauty, who appeared to have a life of perfection, told of her sister who had died of full-blown AIDs. Monica’s recollection triggered the memories of many in the audience of their losses of friends and family over the years.
Following Monica’s talk, Louis held the live auction and dinner was served.
Performer
Performer
Performer
Performer
Performer
Unlike other events, this one was running not only on time, it was running early. Just before 9 p.m. the runway show kicked off with a look-a-like Madonna performing on stage with backup dancers. From that point on, it was non-stop faux entertainers like Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, who had made their names during the past 25 years, performing in between a parade of fashions from Traffic LA, Vintage Martini Mario Gallegos, Immanuel Tobias and Hannah Pederson. The showstoppers once again were the drag queens, who looked too good to be real. One guest nudged her date asking, “You’re sure they’re guys?”
Drag queens
As the show continued for more than an hour, everything from auction items, a few edgy outfits to glamorous gowns with towering hairstyles wrapped around large ovals of lights popped up to the delight of the crowd. A couple of gals were very delighted at the whole affair. At the side of the runway, they had a great time low-fiving models as they passed by. Farther back in the ballroom LeeAnne Locken with arms thrown in the air danced on a chair.
Painted people
Bevy of beauties
DIFFA No. 25
A group of painted people stood on stage like statues. In a zombie-like trance, groups of them slowly walked the catwalk and returned to the main stage. As they returned to their statuesque positions, a bevy of beauties in white flowing white ballgowns wearing mammoth white feathered headdresses slowly walked to the end of the runway, turned and returned halfway. Stopping, the lead diva raised her right arm and pointed to the painted people who were now facing the back wall. On each of their backs was a letter. Together it spelled out “DIFFA No. 25”.
Show members exiting stage
Show members exiting stage
Show members exiting stage
Show members exiting stage
With that the bevy turned and walked down the stage followed by the entire entourage of hundreds of models, entertainers and the backstage crew.
As the guests emptied the ballroom for the after-party in the Trinity Ballroom, one guests snipped of the show, “It could have been cut by 40%.”
Ron Kirk called it a day, as he and wife Matrice toddled on home. The former mayor chuckled, “It turned me into my parents: That’s too loud! It was fun, though.”
But attorney Keith Aurzaba summed up the 25th anniversary succinctly: “Across the decades, DIFFA No. 25 captures the significance of giving in Dallas.”
And for its 25th anniversary, it was a home run.