Nevada Ballet Theatre names Woman of the Year

Mitzi Gaynor was honored as Woman of the Year during Nevada Ballet Theatre’s recent Black and White Ball at Bellagio.

Gaynor, an Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, is an actress, comedian, musical performer, Broadway star and 15-year Las Vegas headliner during the ’50s and ’60s.

She was introduced by famed fashion designer Bob Mackie.

This particular gala is considered to be the pre-eminent social event of the year.

The evening commenced with an early Cartier reception to meet Gaynor and Mackie.

Seen among the guests were Diana Bennett, Kell Houssels, Rokh Afshai, Richard Plaster, Melinda and Bob Brown, Brenda and Michael Hengel, Cynthia Gregory, Madeleine Andress, Toni and Victor Chaltiel, Colette Saltz, Vera Goulet, Carolyn Sparks, James Medick, Gayle Anderson, Jeffrey Cummings, Stephanie and Steve Stallworth, Sharon and Norm Jenkins, Dee and Ken Ladd, Jewel Brooks, John Fry, Jonathan and Kari Halkyard, Michael Shulman, Sandee Tiberti and daughter, Terissa.

Guests were greeted by Mariam Afshai, regional director of Cartier-West Coast; Nancy Houssels, Nevada Ballet Theatre’s co-founder/co-chairwoman; and Wendy Plaster, the dance company’s co-chairwoman/board trustee.

A red carpet was the entrance for the reception that featured ballet dancers demonstrating their daily workout sessions.

Seen among the crowd were former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., and Bonnie Bryan, U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., and Lisa Heck, Vicki Fertitta, Frank Schreck, Joyce Mack, Stephen James, Patricia and Richard Wright, Pia Zadora, John O’Reilly, Lia and Steve Fleming, Parvin Modaber Jacobs, Michael J. Brown, Britta Carlson, Audra and Bobby Baldwin, Sue Sullivan, Ruth and Jack Lillis, Annee Nounna, Sandy Peltyn, Marilyn and Rod LaRocque, Melissa and Clark Warren and Sharon Carelli .

The evening’s program began with Beth Barbre, Nevada Ballet Theatre executive director and CEO, joining James Canfield, the company’s artistic director, in thanking the dinner’s chairwoman and chairman, Susan and Randy Morton, and the honorary chairman, Bob Mackie. Canfield introduced dancers Mary LaCroix and Grigori Arakelyan, who performed “Rubies.”

Christian Kolberg conducted a live auction and the top bidders were rewarded with a bottle of Dom Perignon. Among the items for bid were two nights including all amenities at the Mansion at MGM Grand, that went for $9,000; four VIP tickets to the National Finals Rodeo in December and tickets for Shania Twain plus dinner at Guy Savoy, attracting a winning bid of $9,000; and two orchestra seats for “A Chorus Line” at the London Palladium with star Leigh Zimmerman of Las Vegas, plus airfare and lodging went twice for $7,000.

Other items for bid included dinner for 18 guests prepared by chef Shawn McClain, won for $15,000; a 10-day Oceania cruise for two along the Italian coast and French Riviera that brought in $16,000; and a two-night stay at Montage Beverly Hills with a $5,000 credit toward cosmetic surgery that sold for $7,000.

Music was by the Mark Barrett Orchestra.