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actsStyle
volume 2 issue 4 | NovemBeR 2009 | thVIPa
complimentar
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 10 | August 2012 | theVIPmag.c
o f s o u t h e a s t t e x a s
2012-13
theaterguide
LucasBabinsexy model/actor turnedfather/lawyer
Theater-inspired looks
t 7 b plc by r r rim
addring rlispping r yr ReaL iz
Bind crin wi sympny Lg
Classicremodels
The Stedman hom
and Kirby-Hill Hous
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EaExecutive Editor
DAVID [email protected]
Contributing WritersCATHLEEN COLE
AmANDA COrbELLLArENA HEAD
grACE mATHISjANE mCbrIDE
HOLLI pETErSENCHEryL rOSE
Editorial AssistantTAmArA mENgES
PapContributing Photographers
SCOTT ESLINgErrEN SHEppArDLEE E. STINSON
Graphic DesignerDAVID CONSTANTINE
AveTo advetise in VIP,
409.880.0700
Cac UVIP of Southeast Texas
380 main Steetbeaont, TX 77701
to sUbsCribE
pLEASE CALL 409.838.2821 Or SubSCrIbEONLINE AT www.THEVIpmAg.COm
to disPlAy thE mAgAzinE
AT yOur buSINESS LOCATION,pLEASE CALL 409.838.2821
sUbmissions
TO SubmIT AN EVENT, OrgANIzATION Or pErSONfOr CONSIDErATION IN AN upCOmINg ISSuE,
SubmIT ONLINE AT www.THEVIpmAg.COm Or [email protected] by uSpS AT ADDrESS AbOVE.
A dv f hea newpapePublisher
bILL OffILL
jOIN uS ON fACEbOOK!.aceook.co/thevia
on the coverThespian Genevieve Brassard, 26, of Lumberton hammed it up in sixlooks inspired by the Beaumont Community Players 2012-13 season(page 15). The cover look, provided by Luxe Boutique in Beaumont, wasmodeled after the quirky main character in Dead Mans Cell Phone.
Photography by Ren SheppardStyling by Grace Mathis and Larena HeadShot on location at the Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts
c o n t e n t s
vip magazine
06 vi hoe06 Remodeling an Oaks
Historic District classic
11 The House on
Kirby-Hill
15 vi stle15 No costumes here:
A look at theatre-
inspired fashion
20 vi oth20 The Symphony League
of Beaumont
23 viesonalit23 Sexy and Successful:
Lucas Babin26 Josh Spell: Being a
ballet dancer at 30
31 ood&dink31 7 best places to get
fresh shrimp
34 Dress&Dine: The Grill
35 vi sotliht35 SE Texas events
41 vi advise41 VIPs 2012-13 theater
guide
47 4 great dates in August
48 Calendar
49 Crossword puzzle
50 vi voices50 Shopping for your
REAL size
11
31
inside august
41
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In 1912, Jerry and Mary Hall
Stedman commissioned the
building of a grand, American
Craftsman-style home in
Beaumont. Over the century of
its existence, the house changed
through many hands, had
additions added and stripped
away, and experienced alterations
and decay. By 1998, it was a sad
husk of former glory when an enterprising couple
saw its potential.
Treasure in the rough
The dilapidated house in the Oaks Historic
District had been empty for some time when Ralphand Virginia Jordan moved in 14 years ago. Vagrants
had squatted there until a building contractor bought
the lot for $30,000 and stabilized the condition of
the house from further deterioration. The Jordans
bought it from him, and restoring the home would
become their passion.
We love antiques and things that are old,
Virginia said. This neighborhood was such an at-
traction to us we were willing to do anything. My
husband and I work as a team and theres nothing he
cant do.
Having carpentry, plumbing, electrical and other
do-it-yourself skills made tackling an old house lessdaunting. If theyd had to hire someone for every-
thing theyve done, the costs might have been stag-gering, Virginia suspects. By day, Virginia works asa process coordinator for Total Petrochemical USA,Inc. in Port Arthur. After hours, she switches to herteam role with her husband of 26 years. We make a
pretty good team, she noted. Im his aesthetic coor-dinator. I paint and wallpaper and I tell him where toput things and what I want done.
Re-piecing the puzzle
Ralph Jordan has degrees in biology and chemis-try and is a renery supervisor for Total Petrochemi-cal USA, Inc. All of his home building skills were
learned as a child working for his father, who owneda business. He put Ralph to work at a young agehelping to x trucks, pipes and electrical and me-
chanical problems. Ralph bought and ipped his rsthouse while attending college. Though he spends 50hours a week at the renery, evenings, weekends andvacations are spent on house projects.
To me, its fascinating to work with old houses,
he said. Its a problem-solving task that I enjoy do-ing. Once its done, the house has a lot of characterand not everyone has one like it. This house probablytook two to three years to build in 1912. The crafts-
manship in this house can hardly be duplicated. Wedont have the patience any more. We are always ina hurry now. Then, they were interested in precision
and craftsmanship.
h i s t o r i c a l r e m o d e l s
vp home
Centennial
SentinelBau, cafmap ad dm ad a a xamp f pva ucctext by Cheryl rose photography by lee e. stinson
>>
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OriginsThe Jordans home was built
1912 by Jerry Clemmons Stedm
of Stedman Fruit Company. He liv
in the home for 20 years with his
second wife, Mary C. Hall. After J
rys death in 1932, Mary lived in
home another 20 years. She sold
the house in 1952 to Roline and
Ione Walker. Roline Walker owned
Walkers Beaumont Pharmacy an
Ione taught elementary school.
At one time, three generations of
Walkers lived in the home.
How Times Change
Originally, a portion of the grooor was the servants quarters.
The open area was used for par-
ties. Around the time of World W
II, small apartment rooms were
roughed in, thought to have acco
modated the workers brought in
the shipbuilding efforts. Ione Wal
later rented these rooms to fellow
widowed school teachers after th
death of her husband.
Treasured Companions
Mary Hall Stedman was one o
the rst organizers of BeaumontHumane Society. The gravestone
of her two dogs, Bill and Mary, w
lovingly placed next to the house
on its east side with the inscriptio
Beloved pointers, treasured com
panions. The stones remain the
today. Stedman would be please
that the Jordans share her love o
animals, having adopted three do
and six cats. The dogs let us liv
here,Virginia jokes.
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10 August 2012 | theVIPmag.com
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As she walked back andforth to school in heryouth, Nelda Overstreetwatched the gradualdemise of the Kirby-HillHouse, once the pride
of Kountze. The abandoned, dilapidatedand neglected estate was a shadow of itsformer self.
In its heyday, the home namedfor the Kirby and Hill family who livedthere was the center of auence in thearea. The house itself was built in 1902
by Frank T. Smith, an acclaimed architectknown for his work on the Gilbert andAlamo buildings, for James Kirby, brotherto John Henry Kirby, founder of the KirbyLumber Company which ruled the HardinCounty and Southeast Texas lumber busi-ness for more than one hundred years.
It was no secret that the Kirby-Hillfamilies were auent in wealth due totheir thriving lumber business, and it issaid that parties and events were held atthe home for the whos who of Hardinand Jeerson Counties. Fellow business
owners, artists, entertainers and government ocials considered an invitationto a social event at the house to be anacknowledgement of popularity amongtheir peers.
This house has always had an allurabout it our community could not resistsaid Rose Hall, president of the Board oDirectors of the Kirby-Hill House Educational Foundation, Inc. I dont think somuch because of the people necessarilyalthough they were all well liked. It wasjust a presence of such a grand place in
k i r b y - h i l l h o u s e
vp viewing
Housetext by AmAndA Corbellphotography by lee e. StinSon
The
Kirby-Hillon
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a very small town that made people proud itwas here.
Saving a landmark
But in the late 1980s, the once grandiosehome was in disrepair. Thats when Over-street, a former teacher at Kountze ISD, hada vision to save the property. Overstreetrounded up a number of people of whoshared her sentiments for the historicalhome and they decided to do somethingabout it. Overstreet would eventually be-come the homes curator.
Originally going through the SoutheastTexas Arts Council to form the Kirby-HillEducational Foundation, the organizationeventually split o, raising $125,000 locallyto purchase the property and then raisingmore to restore it back to its original state.
When the Foundation bought the homeand plans moved forward for restoration in1992, the property had been neglected andwas in bad condition. Hall says there wereholes in the ceilings and oors and the housewas visited regularly by vagrants.
When it came under new ownership,there was not much left inside the home out-side of pictures and small artifacts. The newowners scoured antique and resale shops tobuy back the artifacts they could nd. Someof the items they were able to locate and buyback include a Jenny-Lind Youth bedroomsuit, large dresser and armoire, birds-eyemaple bedroom suit that belonged to AutieLois Hill, a Lawyers book case, several ped-estal stands, the original china and glasses, a
bed and dresser that belonged to Austin Hill,two swan-head rockers and miscellaneousartifacts.
Some of the townsfolk of Kountze whohad bought things during the time Autielived there and had estate sales to keep bodyand soul together brought them back, saidHall. Restoring this home pulled people to-gether, and they worked side by side to makethe restoration a reality.
A social center
The home has a prosperous history innot just the family, but also in the events
that took place at the home in its prime, atradition that the new owners try to continuetoday.
Hall says they oer a series of MurderMystery Dinner Theaters, small cateredgatherings called Lunch With Lucy, bedand breakfast rooms and historical tours.The house is also available to rent for wed-dings, receptions, formal catered dinners,political meetings and more, all of whichraise money for the ongoing restoration of
the house.We view the home as a business withmany venues, said Hall. The house is forrent for whatever function the renter thinksits suited forwe have done most every-thing.
During the historical tours, the guidesteach about the architectural points of thestructure, the function of dierent aspects ofthe home, and societal functionality of theera, as well as the genealogy of the families.
The Kirby-Hill High Tea presents actorsportraying Kirby and Hill family membersin vignettes that are from possible scenarios
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from a day in their life, all while you havea tea. The Traveling Trunk is when twopeople dressed in period costumes make apresentation about the house and its manyeras with artifacts to school-age children orany club or civic organization. Lunch withLucy is a catered luncheon for groups of 10or more in an intimate setting and includes atour of the home.
By far the most popular event at theKirby-Hill House, however, is the bi-annual
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.We present one in the fall and one in thespring, said Hall. We usually have betweenfour and ve hundred attendees for eachsession and it makes the lions share of ourprots each year.
Many guests choose to rent the houseduring rehearsals for the dinner theater andon show days. The bed and breakfast canonly be rented during that time if you areattending the performance.
We have quite a few repeats each yearwho do just that, said Hall. Consequentlythat makes for odd times of the year that
the house is available to rent. It is usuallyavailable during the months of January andFebruary, May, June, July, part of August,November and December.
Other events throughout the year includea Easter Egg Hunt for the community, a Hal-loween Bash and the Simpler Place and Timein the Big Thicket Christmas PhotographyExperience, where the house is elaboratelydecorated for the holiday and is open forfamily pictures with a local photographer.
A vision seen
Now, twenty years after beginning therestoration project, one womans vision anddesire to keep a local treasure from destruc-
tion has triggered an ongoing restoration ofone of the most historically rich propertiesin Southeast Texas. More than just a placeto bring the local elementary kids for eldtrips, the Kirby-Hill House has brought acommunity together and has provided mem-bers with a beautiful background setting forsome of their best memories.
I think for a long time the project (ofrestoration) became the reason for the proj-ect, said Hall. What I mean is, the people
were so enthused to work together as a body,the reason why became less important. Itruly believe that everyone who worked onthis project in the beginning is very gladthey did.
The home Winding staircases, beveled glass windows, wrap-around porches and full-lengthwindow screens are a breathtaking reminder of life in the Colonial revival period when the home was built. Usingthe nest materials money could buy (much of the lumber came from the Kirby mills), the home still retains a highdegree of both historic and structural integrity and is the only one of its kind in Hardin County. The house features48 columns, four replaces and eight rooms that all open onto the porch through eight-foot, double-sash windows.The most outstanding architectural features include the curved walls and oval grand staircase. On the grounds tothe right of the mansion is a state champion Crepe Myrtle tree that is more than 100 years old.
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Cmt h e a t e r f a s h i o n
p style
text and styling by Laren
Head andGraCe MatHis
Theatre sparks
the imaginati
and takes us
another world
Be inspired b
the 2012-13
line-up of shows from Beau-
mont Community Players an
share your sartorial drama w
those around you. In this lifeyour ensemble is your costu
and everyday is your stage.
Whatever character you may
be, play it to the fullest, for
there are no costumes here.
d MCll Ph
Just like the quirky main character
in Dead Mans Cell Phone, you
can express your individual-
ity through unique pieces and mix-
matched accessories. You can mix
patterns when you keep a ow with
similar colors throughout your look.Unlike Jean, you dont have to wait
for life to take you on an odyssey of
change. Experience change through
personal style.
From Luxe Boutique, Beaumont: Polka
dot dress, $40; Taupe foppy hat,
$43; Red bow belt, $23; Floral print
bracelet, $13; Leopard fats, Dolce
Vita, $90. (Cat eyeglasses courtesy of
Beaumont Community Players)
photographry byren sHePPard
photo staging bytaMara MenGes
modeled byGenevieve Brassard anddorian MCCaLL
males costume styling byGLadys tHoMas, BeauMoCoMMunity PLayers
shot on location atBetty GreenBerG Centerfor tHe PerforMinG arts
n
H
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Hay Fever
Set in the 1920s, the comedy Hay Fever features a family of self-ab-
sorbed eccentrics. Show off your classic eccentricity in a fun way with
20s-inuenced pieces in complementary colors. In this ensemble,
youll surely charm those around you and not run them off like the charac-
ters in this comedy of manners.
From Luxe Boutique, Beaumont: Bow tie blouse, MM Couture, $60; Navy
sailor skirt, Aryn K., $68; Cloche hat, $58; Gold stretch bracelet, $20;
Gold geometric earrings, $11.
The Importanceof Being Earnest
You will be as memorable as the wit in Oscar Wildes comedy, The
Importance of Being Earnest, in romantic attire with Victorian-inspired
elements. Just as this play leaves the audience quoting it indenitely,
so will elements of lace, owers and femininity leave an indelible impression.
Romance and wit are here again.
From La-Tee-Da Boutique, Beaumont: Lace button down with slip, Blue
Pepper, $52; Gauzey shawl, $39; Brown lace-up boots, $29; Grey
pearl earrings, $10; Rose ring, $10; Embellished handcrafted purse,
Mary Frances, $225
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A Funny Thing Happenedon the Way to the Forum
Unlike the funny folks in Sondheims musical comedy Forum, theres no
joking around in this show-stopping updated Grecian ensemble. Work your
goddess magic wherever you go with a beautiful look that is suitable for
anything from a cocktail party to the symphony to opening night. And remember,
a little cheekiness always makes things more interesting.
From Luxe Boutique, Beaumont: Pleated Grecian dress, MM Couture, $118;
Braided headband, $65; Chandelier earrings,$20; Long hammered ring,
$10; Braided wrap bracelet, $10; White Grecian sandal, Dolce Vita, $65
theVIPmag.com | August 2012
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Camelot
Become a modern-day Guinevere with an updated queenly look. Draw
on the romance and fantasy of Lerner and Loewes timeless musical
Camelot with elements such as sparkling accessories, luxurious fabric,
and a headpiece t for a princess. Your beauty will no doubt catch your prince
when you slip into this royal ensemble.
From Luxe Boutique, Beaumont: One shoulder founce dress, MM Couture,
$90; Rhinestone oval earring, $28; Beaded headband, $37; Two-tone
stretch bracelet, $50; Oversized rhinestone ring, $25; Nude pumps,
BCBG, $90
Rabbit Hole
There is no way to describe what its like to lose a child, as playwright Da-
vid Lindsay-Abaire deftly expresses in Rabbit Hole. Just as he uses humor
to convey sadness, so can a simple ensemble such as this be appropriate
in various circumstances. Powerful and to-the-point is often difcult to achieve,
but is done here with elegance.
From Luxe Boutique, Beaumont: Black silk blouse, Glam, $98; Silky draw-string pant, $30
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theVIPmag.com | August 2012
6755 Phelan, Ste. 17 Beaumont, TX 77706 409.861.5762
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ORCHESTRATEDT Smpn Lagu f
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text by CheryL roSe
Ihonestly think Harvard Business School needs to study our busi-ness model. Its amazing how successful we are, asserted CindyDishman, the immediate past president of the Symphony Leagueof Beaumont, Inc.
Fifty-seven years after a group of local women gathered for thepurpose of maintaining and growing the Symphony of SoutheastTexas, their league is as strong as ever. Those women, led by
20 August 2012 | theVIPmag.com
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the rst president, Mrs. H.B. Williford,pledged to promote the symphony byorganizing benets and social aairs.Current president Kelli Trevino saidthe founders, then called the BeaumontSymphony Womens League, held gardentours, fashion shows and golden teas asfundraisers. They were headquartered inthe Hotel Beaumont, handling the admin-
istrative tasks of the young symphony,which was formed in 1952.Only a few short years after establish-
ing this new organization, some enter-prising members hit on two fundraisingideas that would become powerhouserevenue streams, thus positioning theSymphony League as the single larg-est contributor to the symphony. Lastyear, the league donated $77,000 tothe symphony in addition to fundingseveral music education programs. CraigEscamilla, the executive director of theSymphony of Southeast Texas, said thecontribution is approximately 20 percentof the organizations annual income or
the equivalent of two concerts.
Financial support and advocacy
Trevino said the nonprot SymphonyLeague has a dual purpose. The rst isto support and promote the growth of theSymphony of Southeast Texas, she said.The second is to foster and encouragemusical education, participation andappreciation of the public in classicalmusic.
Trevino accepted the gavel from Dish-man in May, culminating fteen years ofvolunteer work in the league. There are
currently 420 league members. Any-body can join if youre willing to pay
the $35 annual dues and have a passionfor culture in your city, Trevino said.Our members work in various roles asvolunteers, she explained. Some areout front and some are behind-the-scenesworking. Its an upbeat, positive organi-zation.
Dishman, who now serves on theboard of directors for the symphony, saysthat being president of the SymphonyLeague was an easy job because all thevolunteers are perfectionists. It is themost dynamic group of women you willever meet, she said.
Income earners
In 1957, the league sponsored aViennese Ball as a fundraising event.The Symphony Ball is now one of thehighlights of the winter season in Beau-mont and the leagues largest fundraiser.The next ball will be held February 2,2013 with the theme Secret Garden.The evening includes live music, dinner,dancing, a silent auction and the presen-tation of the Symphony Belles, eighth-grade girls participating in a juniordebutante program.
In 1962, the Symphony Leaguepresented the rst debutante class. The
members name who thought to tie acommunitys debutante program to
support the symphony is lost to historybut she was a genius. The SymphonyDebutantes program brings in more thmoney, it brings in a renewable sourceof talent. Both Trevino and Dishman intially became involved in the symphonthrough their desire for their children tparticipate in the debutante program.
The Symphony League has made paticipation in the debutante program noabout social status or wealth, but aboutvolunteer commitment by parents andchildren to the Symphony of SoutheastTexas. To be nominated as a debutantefor her senior year in high school, a girmust be the daughter of a SymphonyLeague member who has been activefor at least four years and committed tovolunteer projects. The daughter musta member of the Youth Guild and activparticipate in their volunteer activities
Once selected, the family pays a feefor the debutantes season, but the caledar of parties and events is heavily sposored by Symphony League volunteerswho provide owers, food and muchmore. The highlight of the season is thdebutante presentation ball in NovembThe season ends with a luncheon
Volunteers welcome!Membership in the Symphony League of Beaumont is open to all. (Yes, there are some men in theleague.) Membership forms can be downloaded at their website, www.slbmt.com. Annual duesare $35 for adults or $20 for youth and seniors.
photographybyrenshepparda
ndbeaumontenterprisestaff
Leftpage:BeaumontSymphonyLeaguem
embersMelanieHeartfeld
,KelliTrevino
,RachaelRoane
,BarbaraBarronandTracyBean
.
2012 Symphony Ball
>>
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where butteries are released.
The debutante program teachesetiquette and career skills, said FrancesBethea, the immediate past president ofthe Symphony of Southeast Texas anda former president of the SymphonyLeague. The girls learn a lot of skillsthat will stand them in good stead notjust at tea parties, but in the real world.
Symbiotic relationship
Bethea, a partner at Benckenstein& Oxford LLP in Beaumont, has nowserved as president for both the Sympho-ny of Southeast Texas and the SymphonyLeague of Beaumont. A member of theleague since the mid-1980s, she was rst
drawn in to leadership by a close friend,Sandra Mason, who was then presi-dent. A few years later, she was herselfpresident during 2005-2006, the yearof Hurricane Rita. In May, she nisheda two-year term as the president of thesymphonys board of directors. Havingworked closely with the two separatenonprots, Bethea has a special perspec-tive.
With the Symphony League, I cansee results, and I like that, she said. Ilike that everyone does their job. Thereis a great deal of scal responsibility. TheSymphony League members are good
fundraisers and also very good stewards,very careful with the money, which is re-freshing. What I admire the most is thatthey arent afraid to make hard decisionsif it is for the betterment of the organiza-tion.
Having viewed the leagues work fromthe perspective of the recipient agency,the Symphony of Southeast Texas, sherealizes how dependent the symphonyis on the league for nancial support.Additionally, she said the league providesvolunteer-power for many tasks that thesymphony would otherwise have to pay
for.
Relations between the two boards arefull of mutual respect and admiration.
We have an extremely wonderfulworking relationship with the symphonyadministration, Trevino said. Craig andChelsea (Tipton, the symphony musicdirector) attend our meetings and are ourbiggest cheerleaders.
Escamilla, in his sixth year as execu-
tive director of the symphony, is equallypositive. Its really become a partner-ship where we are constantly bouncingideas o each other; an ideal symbioticrelationship with a donor, he said.
The support of the Symphony Leagueis a consistent source of revenue thatallows the symphony to thrive. If youcharged the end user a price for yourservice at what that service actuallycosts, it would put the price too high, sononprots rely on fundraising to osetcosts, Escamilla said. What the Sym-
phony League has done is develop earnrevenue streams that relate to their mision. The way theyve done that is realremarkable.
Time to celebrate
For a professional symphony to ceebrate 60 years is remarkable, Escamisaid. Orchestras are folding left andright, but ours is growing and strong.
Trevino and Dishman both echoed hcomments, remarking on how unusualis to have a symphony in a city of Beaumonts size. Both credited the symphonadministrators and musicians for creating such as strong program.
Dishman, who with 20 years of voluteer work for the two organizations hasseen economic ups and downs, maestrocome and go, and leadership turnover,feels very positive about the current staand future prospects of the Symphony Southeast Texas. Its a shining star inour community, she said.
Educating and supporting young musiciansThe Symphony League sponsors several major programs to support the appreciation of music.
Youth Education Concerts
An annual event, Trevino said that 4,000 local children came by the busload this year to hear aspecial youth-oriented, free performance by the symphony at the Julie Rogers Theatre.
Side-By-Side Concerts
A $10,000 commitment from the Symphony League sponsors this program where local studentsperform on stage with the members of the Symphony of Southeast Texas. About 1,300 youngmusicians participated this year.
String Competition
To encourage and support students to pursue prociency with stringed instruments, the Sym-phony League organizes and sponsors this annual event, awarding the winner a $200 musicscholarship. Eighty children in grades K-12 participated last February.
Youth Guild
A group of high school-age volunteers, boys and girls, who usher at symphony concerts, workwith the string competition, and assist with other symphony projects throughout the year.
lEft:SymphonyBelleswaittobepresentedd
uringthisyearsSymphonyBall.
RIGHT:Astringquartet
performsduringthe2012SymphonyBall.
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consider himself a jock. An important part ofhis childhood included the hunting and shingoutings he made with his father, Brian, and hisbig brother, Leif.
During his Woodville days, coming to Beau-mont was a big deal. Beaumont was a hugecity for me, he remembered.
Was he image-conscious back then? No,not at all, he replied, noting that his custom-ary ensemble was a T-shirt and jeans. Iftheyd had an election for the worst dressed, Imight have won that.
Hollywood dreams
After a year at Stephen F. Austin Univer-sity, Babin set out for California in 1999. Hisoriginal goal was to enroll at the University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles as a lm major. But hedidnt know anyone in L.A., so he convincedhis parents to let him live with his brother, Leif,who had just graduated from the United StatesNaval Academy and was stationed in San Diego.He enrolled in a local community college and
worked nights singing and playing his guitar atrestaurants, dreaming of the day he would makeit to L.A. and become an actor.
Babin soon decided to make his move. Hedrove to Ford Models in Beverly Hills, walked inand oered some Polaroid snapshots. Since Fordalso represented actors, his idea was to get anagent for acting. My rst interest was movies,he said. What I really wanted was to get anacting agent.
But he knew that if he started modeling, hecould parlay that into an acting career, so he gota modeling agent and an acting agent. Withintwo weeks, at age 20, he was in Miami doing a
photo shoot for the Abercrombie & Fitch catalog
with legendary fashion photographer BruceWeber. The job lasted eight hours a day for fourdays, but it felt more like play. That type of
shoot doesnt feel like work, he explained.Soon after the Abercrombie & Fitch shoot,
his Ford agent called and told him he had a
casting call for a Gucci ad campaign that wouldstart in January 2000. He got the job and knewhed have to withdraw from school. His father
understood that it was a great opportunity andgave him his blessing. That was the year Babinstarted getting acting parts.
From Paris to Brazil
Yes, Babin dated Paris Hilton briey
when he was 23. We were just really friends,he said. The relationship aorded him his rstopportunity to deal with paparazzi. It also
led to shooting a music video with the richsocialite a few years later. I was really gladto get that job, he said of his role as the sexyboyfriend frolicking with the reality starlet othe beach in Stars are Blind. I had a good timdoing it. It was pretty easy work.
The young model/actor lucked into his ro
as Nick the cowboy on the Brazilian televisioseries America that ran in 2005. He was livinin Los Angeles in 2004 when a friend intro-duced him to Luciana Bressane who was fromRio de Janeiro and worked as an event coor-dinator for fashion designers. Babin told herhe wanted to go to Brazil. She returned homeand then called him to say she had gotten hima modeling job for a runway show during RioFashion Week and a print campaign.
It was backstage during Fashion Week thahe met a screenwriter for the telenovela whosaid the show needed an American who spokPortuguese. Bressane, who became his agentBrazil, told him it was a huge opportunity anhired a tutor to help him with the language.
He memorized about four pages of lines, wento the studio to audition for the part and washired on the spot. (He now speaks Portugueuently.)
Coming home
When Babins commitment to the show wover in January 2006, he headed back to LosAngeles and landed a role on The Young and
Restless. He was young, but he wasnt restlesHe wanted to settle down. He and Bressanestarted dating and married in April 2007 athis parents house in Woodville. The coupledrove away on an all-terrain vehicle after the
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nuptials but quickly returned for a crawsh-boil reception.The couple resided in Los Angeles and had twin boys, Luke and
Philip, in 2008. They were the impetus for the move back to Texas. Idenitely wanted to raise them here, he explained, not in L.A.
He also wanted to be closer to his parents and other family mem-bers who still live in the area. Hes into the important things, saidBlythe Babin Fiedler, his aunt who lives in Beaumont. His family
comes rst. Fiedler also noted that her wild-prankster nephew hascalmed down considerably. From his teenage years to now, hes mel-lowed, she said.
Babin and his family moved to The Woodlands in 2009, and hegave up acting and modeling to earn a history degree at Sam HoustonState University and start law school at the University of Houston. Ican go back to the pursuit of acting any time, he said. My kids areonly going to be young once, and I wanted to raise them here.
Older and wiser
How is Babin dierent from the young kid who got lucky andbecame a famous model? In some ways, the world doesnt seem like abig place anymore, he said. I feel really fortunate for the opportuni-ties Ive had.
And what about designer clothes? Are they a must-have? No, hesaid. I wear whatever my wife gets me.
To relax, Babin spends time with his family. For fun, I spend asmuch time with my wife and kids as I possibly can, he said, addingthat he enjoys heading to Woodville to visit his parents, too. Beingout in the country is my favorite thing to do.
New adventures
Occasionally, Babin gets a call about a modeling job, but hes notpursuing that career anymore. And he doesnt miss it. My priority isbeing the best dad and husband I can be, he said, adding that doingwell in law school is also important. He might be open to producing,acting and directing in the future if the right opportunities arose.
Looking back on his modeling and acting career, hes satised withthe outcome. I wouldnt have done a thing dierently, he said. I hadgreat adventures, and there are a lot more to come. VIP
theVIPmag.com | August 2012
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j o s h s p e l l
vpersonality
At the age when most children are learn-
ing to ride a tricycle, Josh Spell was
becoming increasingly enchanted by
the power of music and movement. Theformer Beaumont boys grandmother,
Frances Bonura, lled the living room
with the sounds of Tchaikovskys Firebird as Josh danced
around the room. When he saw the ballet, The Nutcrack-
er for the rst time, Josh wasnt old enough to enroll in
kindergarten, but was totally mesmerized.
Frannie, as Josh called her, was a member of the Happy
Steppers, a Beaumont dance group for seniors. Josh would
accompany her to classes, and when one of the members
was absent, step into that role.
Aft a a o atoal stag,
Baumot atv a ballt a
hoogaphs xt stps lf
text by JAne McBride
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I quickly picked up choreogra-phy and knew that I had somethingspecial, Josh said. I enrolled in tapat Marsha Woodys Academy of Dancewhen I was 10. For two years theytried to convince me to take ballet.Finally, at 12, I gave in.
At 16, Josh was accepted into theprestigious School of American Bal-let in New York. At 19, he became amember of Seattles Pacic NorthwestBallet troupe, where he danced profes-sionally for 10 years.
By 29, Josh thought he might haveaccomplished about as much as hewas going to on the stage. Perhaps,he decided, it was time to move on to
another career.I was not 100 percent happy andI knew that I did not want to becomecomplacent, he said from his home inSeattle. Doing research on retirementin dance and also on the history ofdance made me grateful for my careerand allowed me to move forward.
By age 30, most professionals arejust beginning to move up in theirchosen careers. In June, 2011, theyear before he turned 30, Josh alreadyhad retired from the Pacic North-west Ballet. He went back to school
to study Interior Design. Immersinghimself in an academic environmentwith peers ten years younger wasbrutal, he acknowledged.
My life as I had known it since theage of 16 was completely transformed.I really had to focus on who I was asa person and not just who I was as adancer. It was the most dicult chal-lenge of my life thus far. I had beensaying that I wished that my friendsknew what I knew now while theywere still dancing. Then I got a call inMarch to join the Kansas City Ballet.Now I get that second chance to expe-rience my career dierently.
For ballet dancers like Josh, the
20s often mark the pinnacle of acareer. Turning 30 means decidingwhether they can continue to meetthe intense physical demands for afew more years, or whether its timeto accept one last thunderous round ofapplause as the curtain falls.
To stay in good physical shape,Josh depends on swimming, strengthtraining, and teaching Pilates classesto keep him in dancing condition.
I have had my fair share of inju-ries and as a mature dancer I knowthat I must keep my body conditioned>>
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LL RE
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in Port Arthur and Sabine Pass.The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administrationreports that 19.6 million poundsof commercially caught sh with adock value of $47.4 million werebrought to the Port Arthur docksin 2010. And 99 percent of that
haul was shrimp. The shrimpindustry has a tremendous impacton our local economy, says TerrieLooney, Texas Sea Grant Exten-sion agent for Jeerson and Cham-bers counties.
According to Sinclair Oubreof the Port Arthur Area Shrimp-ers Association, there are about70 commercial shrimpers in PortArthur and Sabine Pass. Thatsdown from about 300 in 2000. Acombination of factors put manyof the shrimpers out of businessincluding the urry of hurricanes,the rising cost of diesel fuel andthe inux of cheap, foreign, farm-raised shrimp. Oubre advocateseating local, wild-caught shrimpbecause he says it helps the localeconomy, and its healthier thanthe foreign, farm-raised alterna-tive. Foreign shrimp are oftenfarmed in unsanitary conditions,so producers must use high levelsof antibiotics, pesticides and otherchemicals to prevent disease.(Farm-raised shrimp and shin the United States are subject
to stricter rules, according toLooney, who is a member of theTexas Aquaculture Association.)If people knew what they wereeating, Oubre says of the foreign-farmed shrimp, they would notfeed it to their cats.
Oubre encourages restaurantpatrons to ask their servers if the
shrimp being served is wild caughtor farm-raised in a foreign coun-try. Do you want quality or quan-tity? he asked, adding that if youwant quality, you may have to paymore, but it is worth it in termsof fresh taste and healthfulness.It is also important to support thelocal shrimpers, he believes. The
shrimping community is part ofmultifaceted maritime industry which our Southeast Texas economy is built, he said, noting thathe Beaumont-Port Arthur area the fourth-largest maritime centin the country. We could lose thshrimpers. It would underminethat foundation.
Floyds Cajun Seafood
and Texas Steakhouse
This casual restaurant serves seafood
straight out of the Gulf. Start with
the superior shrimp cocktail and a
cup of shrimp gumbo. For the main
course, you can have your shrimp
grilled, fried, stuffed or served in
etouffee. Theres no wrong choice
here.
409.842.06862290 I-10 South, Beaumontoydsseafood.com
J. Martin
Seafood Market
Come in for fresh shrimp right off
the boats from local shrimpers. The
market has a deli too, so you can
ll up on shrimp dishes and then
take some home to cook later.
409.729.88993324 Nederland Ave., Nederland
The Schooner
A local tradition, the Schooner
has been in business since 1947.
Shrimp cocktail, shrimp gumbo,
shrimp salad, shrimp scampi,
shrimp alfredo, shrimp au gratin,
stuffed shrimp, the shrimp platter
with half fried shrimp and half
shrimp etouffee it sounds like
Bubba Blues list of shrimp dishes!
409.722.23231507 South Hwy. 69 at Hwy. 365,Nederlandtheschoonerrestaurant.com
great places
to get fresh
shrimp inSE Texas
7
VIP
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Larrys French Market
& Cajun Restaurant
Looking for great shrimp dishes
with an authentic Cajun atmo-
sphere? You dont need to go to
Louisiana. Just head for Larrys
French Market where you can get
the perfect shrimp po boy or a
heapin helpin of boiled, fried or
grilled shrimp.
409.962.33813701 Atlantic Hwy. (FM 366), Groveslarrysfrenchmarket.com
Sartins Seafood and
Sartins West
Sartins has been preparing fresh-
caught seafood in the Golden
Triangle for decades. From the
shrimp bisque to the shrimp dinner
offering boiled, fried, grilled or
stuffed shrimp, youll be swimming
in delicious shrimp dishes.
409.721.9420,
3520 Nederland Ave., Nederland
409.861.34741990 I-10 South, Beaumontsartins.com
The Seafood Lover
The Seafood Lover likes keepin
it fresh with catches from the
coastal bays and Gulf waters. You
can buy shrimp fresh for your own
home-cooked recipes, or you can
purchase prepared dishes such
as shrimp pasta in wine sauce,
shrimp gumbo, shrimp dip, shrimp
potatoes, boiled shrimp and
shrimp quiche.409.892.10934389 Calder Ave., Beaumont
Zydeco Louisiana
Diner
Zydeco Louisiana Diner, open for
lunch on weekdays only, serves
home-cooked Cajun food including
shrimp po boys, shrimp salads
and shrimp platters. Tres bien!
409.835.4455270 Crockett St., Beaumontzydecolouisianadiner.com
theVIPmag.com | August 2012
COBB CONSTRUCTION
Building on the Bolivar Peninsula since 1972!
2290 Highway 87
PO Box 1429
Crystal Beach,Texas 77650
409.684.3791
With over 40 years of experience building on the Bolivar Peninsula, Cobb Construction is a family-owned custom
home builder with hundreds of completed projects since 1972. Want to build in the Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach,
Caplen, or Gilchrist area? Give us a call! If you are looking for a quality home, mixed with a wonderful experience in
building, Cobb Construction is the right builder for you!
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styling and text by Larena Headphotography by scott esLingerclothing provided by beLLa beLLamodeled by tayLor baiLey of Beaumont
dSet yourself apart from the crowdin this striking coral tunic dressthat can seamlessly transitionfrom dinner table to patio. Thetunics bold, bright pattern andembellished boat neck are thestatement makers, leaving roomfor a few key accessories. Sleekhair and elegant earrings accentthe face, while a set of goldbangles and an ornate turquoisecocktail ring add some air andpolish the look. A structured goldclutch completes the ensemble. Alux evening awaits.
From Bella Bella: Boat Neck TunicDress, Hale Bob, $186; Multi-StoneDangle Earrings, $28; Gold Bangle Set,$28; Embossed Rhinestone Clutch,$62; Turquoise Stretch Ring, $38
dDelicious food, a warm ambi-ence and top-notch servicecome together for a wonderfuldining experience at The Grill.The elegant-yet-cozy atmosphereprovides a relaxing setting toenjoy a meal. Roasted Lamb,Blackened Tilapia Pontchartrain,and Filet Mignon, which can beenhanced with asparagus andlump crab, are just a few of the
delectable items on the menu.An extensive wine list is sure toplease wine lovers of all types. Inaddition to the formal dining, TheGrill provides a comfortable andcasual atmosphere at The Cabanaand Patio. Weekly live music andgreat lounge spots make TheCabana the perfect haven forhappy hour. If youre looking todine and unwind in style,The Grillby Arfeen, Smith, and Payne isright on the mark.
The Grill by Arfeen, Smith, and Payne,6680 Calder Ave, Beaumont, (409)866-0039, Cabana hours: 3 to 11 p.m.Tuesday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to midnightFriday and Saturday; Main dining hours:5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 5 to11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
d r e s s & d i n e
food dining
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s e t x e v e n t s
vip spotlights
Babe Zaharias Dinner
Hester and Milton Bell
Jim Fetters, Larry Tidwell, Carol Fetters, Dean and Mike Conwell
Patti Calder,Ann a Calder, Jennifer Orr and Grace Gearinger
Keith and Denise Henke,Tracy and RB Maxwell, Barbara and ButchWennerRick and Amy Williams Barbara and Dick Burris
Helen and Al Miller
Shirley and Rhonel Didrikson Jason and Kim Siegelin
Cassie and Greg Guy
John and Dolly Payton and Bob and Jeannie WestBuddy and Martha Foxworth and Jimmy FertittaW.L. Pate, Toye Babb and Hal Ross
Marian and Mike Ruiz
RENSHEPPA
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Miranda Lambert
MeganOlivier,Miranda Nuez, Kim Hobbs,AnnalieseGerhardt, AmandaMinick Jennifer and Miranda Rogers, Jami Balser, Taylor Clakley
Jacelynn Price, Makenze Stephens Jennifer Ford,Trish and Don Miller Brandi Dressler,Melanie LaFleur,AoishaA
Tasha Gonzalez, April Dickerson and Tessa HumbleJohn Hughes, Rod Carroll
Baylee Tupper, Maddie Price, Cassie Simon and Makenzie Martin Laura Snook, Sandy Richardson, Julie Hargraves and Kelly Anderson
RaGena McNeely, Kayla Hobson Cara Manley, Michael Nall Miranda Jackson, Robert Johnson, Sarah Tyrr
scott esling
36 August 2012 | theVIPmag.com
Come
SeeOur
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ook!
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theVIPmag.com | August 2012
Tanya Tucker at Nutty Jerrys
LEE E. STINSON
Tammy Dallard, DarbyMeguess,DLisa Mitchell,DarbyeGarrard
Errol and Debra Wilder
Dakota Harper, Stephanie Hebert and Cassie Dickerson
Kristina Schisler,Alina Holley and Jessica Weldon
Kayce Rezsutek and Kevin, Lesley and Courtney Fitch
Alex and Ray Thompson
Carley Williford, Ivan Lemus
Casey Tankersley, Tyler Leonard
ScOTT ESLINgEr
Michele and Peggy Bean
Raulinda Rice, Khiem Nguyen
Southern Summer Nights
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Excellence inMedia Awards Breakfast with the Bishop
American Red Cross Hurricane Party
LEE E. STINSON
Kate and Rod Carroll
David and Marsha Lisenby
Steve Williams and Vanessa Holmes
Kalie Desimone and Jimmy Blanchard
Scott and Joanie Lawrence
SCOTT ESLING
Betty Davis and Kelly Pruitt Jay and Tina Johnson Mark Guzman and Sharon Tyler
Laura Warson and Alton Cherry Julie and Paul Funchess and Heather Petkcovsek
Stuart and Jeanette Sepaug
Amanda and Jodi Mitchell, Carol Fernandez
Adilene and Julisa Loera
Zack and Kara Hawthorn and Bishop Curtis Guillory Rose Granger, Frances Bryant, Ethel Granger and Esther Harrison
Becky and Rodney Ames, Regina Rogers Patrick and Andrea Donart
Sharon Ailes, Don Petry and Michelle Moore Morgan and Pam Elkins
LEE E. STINS
38 August 2012 | theVIPmag.com
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Concert with a Cause
LEE E. STINS
Ricky and Angela Wells
Kim Kidder and Wendy Poole Gabby and Billy Snyder Laren and Katie Ganderson Kristie and Rodney Young
Angie Morril, Bryan LaCroix Vicky Costanzo, Linda Pas sou and Kenzie Lockie
April Duplantis, Stefanie Guy and Lizette Benico Ashlee Chambliss, Kristen LaFleur and Lacey Marks
theVIPmag.com | August 2012
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First Thursdaysat the Mildred
Donna Farrell, Milt Prewitt, Janet McClendon and Steve Stoma
Joseph and Libby StomaDorothy Sells CloverJesse Gomez, Debbie Dugas, Becky Wilcox, Lin
Marie Garsee, Debra Padilla and John RobertsKaitlin Forrest,Jenna Broussard
Francisca Castillo, A ncia a nd Ivone Garcia An nett Holtm yer a nd Melan ie Morin Mich ael a nd Denise Lan ge De bbie Wigg in s, Mar y Mah lie
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Entertainment!
VIPs 2
012-1
3 thea
terguid
t h e a t e r g u i d e
vip adviser
Thats
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Y
ou dont have to
go far to enjoy
quality theater in
Southeast Texas.
Just look in your
backyard, down
the street, or maybe head to
Houston for an evening. Check
out our source for whats going
on in community and profes-
sional theatre for 2012-2013.
An Intimate Evening with
Lindsey Buckingham
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Aug. 19
Savor this intimate evening with
Lindsey Buckingham, in this solo
show as he sings and plays severalelectric guitars. Earning a spot in
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with
Fleetwood Mac, winning countless
awards, selling out venues around
the world and helping dene the
sound of rock for the last three
decades, he is the predominant
musical force behind such Mac
albums as Rumours and the inno-
vative Tusk, and has created a criti-
cally acclaimed body of solo work
that yielded the hits, Trouble, Go
Insane, and Holiday Road.
Check theater websites for complete season
offerings and schedule changes.
August >>
A Salute to the Carol
Burnett Show
Orange Community Players
Aug. 16-19, 23-25
Local talent brings you this variety/
sketch comedy show as we relive
some of your most memorablemoments from the decade-long,
award-winning, hit CBS television
show. Guaranteed to have you roll-
ing in the aisles!
September>>
November>>
Musical, comedy
Musical, drama
Play, comedy
Play, drama
Concert, music tribune,
dance, other event
VIP picks
text compiledby grace mathis
The Full Monty
Orange Community Players
Oct. 18-21, 25-28
Seeing how much their wives enjoy
watching male strippers during
their Girls Night Out, unemployed
steelworkers in Buffalo, New York
come up with a bold way to make
some quick cash. In the process
they nd renewed self esteem, the
importance of friendship and the
ability to have fun.
Catch Me If You Can
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Nov. 3
Based on the hit movie and
incredible true story that inspired
it, this musical tells the story of a
teen who runs away from home in
search of the glamorous life. With
his boyish charm, a big imagination
and millions of dollars in forged
checks, Frank succeeds ... until an
FBI agent tracks him down.
A Behanding in Spokane
Lamar University
Nov. 8-12
Director: Judith Sebesta
Martin McDonaghs only play set
in the U.S. is about a man who has
spent twenty-ve years searching
for his missing hand. The search
climaxes as he confronts a smiling
motel clerk with an aversion to
gunre and two bickering lovebirds
with a hand to sell.
Treasure Island
Port Arthur Little Theatre
Nov. 9-11, 16-18, 23-25
Based on the adventure novel b
Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasu
Islandis a stunning yarn of pirac
on the tropical seas. It begins
at an inn on the Devon coast of
England in 1775 and becomes
an unforgettable tale of treache
and mayhem. A host of legend-
ary swashbucklers includes the
dangerous Bill Bones, the siniste
Israel Hands, the brassy woman
pirate Anne Bonney, and the evi
incarnate, Blind Pew. At the cenare Jim Hawkins, a young boy
who longs for adventure, and th
infamous Long John Silver, perh
the most famous hero-villain of
times.
A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum
Beaumont Community Players
Sept. 7-8, 14-15, 20-22
Director: Bert Smith
True love, true lust, a pimp, a
pauper, fun and frolic, mystery a
mayhem, and just when you thin
there is no hope for a fairy-tale
ending a happy ending! Based o
Greek comedy and revamped w
music by Sondheim, the play sta
true to its roots with a touch of
1960s humor.
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Ten Little Indians
Port Arthur Little Theatre
Sept. 14-16, 21-23, 28-30
Ten people who are strangers to
each other have been invited up
to a house high on a mountaintop.
When they are all gathered, theyhear from their host that each one
of them has in some way caused
the death of an innocent person
and that justice had not been
served in their cases. There are
eight guests and two servants
there for the weekend, but one by
one they are knocked off, in the
manner of the poem Ten Little In-
dians. As the number of survivors
decreases, they begin to believe
that the killer is in the group, but
are unable to decide on which onehe or she may be in this thriller by
Agatha Christie.
Quilters
Lamar University
Director: Ronald Zank
Oct. 11-14
A celebration of American women
and the pioneering spirit,
this record-settingmusical depicts the
poignant stories of
the steadfastness of
frontier women in the
face of adversity, sewn
into quilt blocks and
performed on stage.
It will be produced in
conjunction with Lamars
music and art depart-
ments, as well as a quilt
exhibit at the Dishman
Museum and other campus-wideactivities. This production and
exhibit will be supported in part by
an Arts in Education grant from the
National Endowment for the Arts.
Dead Mans Cell Phone
Beaumont Community Players
Oct. 19-20, 26-27, Nov. 1-3
Director: Michael Saar
An incessantly ringing cell phone
in a quiet caf, a stranger
at the next table who hashad enough and a dead
man with a lot of
loose ends... So begins
Dead Mans Cell Phone
by playwright Sarah
Ruhl. A work about
how we memorial-
ize the dead how
that remembering
changes us it is
the odyssey of a
woman forced to confront her own
assumptions about morality andredemption in a technologically
obsessed world.
Cirque Chinois
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Oct. 7
Direct from Beijing, the National
Circus of the Peoples Republic
of China was founded in 1953,
making it one of the longest run-ning and most distinguished circus
troupes in China. This circus is
especially acclaimed because of
the unique acts in their program
such as Great Teeterboard,
Grand Flying Trapeze, Group
Contortion, Straw Hats Juggling,
Girls Balance With Bowls and
many other outstanding acts.
VIP says: This will surely be an
awe-inspiring, breathtaking
evening of visual stimulation
and physical prowess. Family-friendly or perfect for a date
night.
December>>
October >>
C
White Christmas
Beaumont Community Players
Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 7- 8, 13- 15
Two iconic song-and-dance men,
follow a sister act to Vermont, only
to discover that the nearly bankrupt
lodge they were to perform at is
owned by their former general.
VIP says: This will be the holiday
show not to miss. A rst-time
performance of this classic pro-
duction on the McFaddin-Ward
stage is sure to make you smile,
laugh and sing along to favor-
ites such as Sisters
and White
A Christmas with Shoji
Tabuchi
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Dec. 15
Celebrate the music of the season
as well as some of ddler Shoji
Tabuchis favorites, melding the
music of Broadway, movies, classi-
cal, country, pop, rock and western
into a fabric of musical perfection.
For two decades, Shoji Tabuchi has
presented the hottest must-see
show in Branson, Missouri. You
must see and hear Shoji Tabuchi to
believe him! Come hear this ddle
extraordinaire who David Copper-eld calls a magician.
A Chorus Line
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Nov. 25
In an empty theatre, on a bare
stage, casting for a new Broadway
musical is almost complete. For 17
dancers, this audition is the chance
of a lifetime. Its what theyve worked
for with every drop of sweat, every
hour of training, every day of their
lives. Its the one opportunity to do
what theyve always dreamed to
have the chance to dance.This is A
Chorus Line, the musical for every-
one whos ever had a dream and put
it all on the line.VIP says: This is a must-see for
anyone who knows anything
about theatre, especially musi-
cals (or loves reality TV). Even
if you dont consider yourself
a musical lover, you probably
shouldnt pass up the opportu-
nity to see this ground-breaking
show.
The Midtown Men
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Nov. 29-30
They took Broadway by storm in
one of the biggest hits of all-time,
Jersey Boys, and now theyre
together again. Experience the
top-shelf choreography, incredible
harmonies and legendary onstage
chemistry that is The Midtown
Men. Tony Award winner Christian
Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel
Reichard and Tony Award nominee
J. Robert Spencer, star in this
one-of-a-kind concert experience
celebrating the music thatdened the 1960s.
A
Christ-
mas.
the 1960s.
at thad
ma
o
D
b
R
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One Night of Queen
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
March 18
In 2000, Gary Mullen won the
grand nale of the British celebrity
impersonation program, Stars in
Their Eyes. After his television
success, Gary Mullen formed his
band, The Works in 2002. Along
with his band, Gary delivers the
look, sound, pomp and showman-
ship of arguably the greatest live
band of all time. With spectacular
lighting and special effects, Gary
Mullen and The Works recreate
and celebrate the music of Queen.Get ready for a nostalgic return to
Queens heyday.
Jazz at Lincoln Center w
Wynton Marsalis
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Feb. 7
Feel the fusion of 15 of the nes
jazz soloists and ensemble playe
today comprising The Jazz atLincoln Center Orchestra under
the leadership of musical directo
trumpeter, composer and educa
Wynton Marsalis. Jazz at L
coln Center is dedicate
to inspiring and growi
audiences for jazz.
Hay Fever
Beaumont Community Players
Jan 18-19, 25-26, 31-Feb. 2
Director: Robert Fong
A comedy of bad manners which
starts with the arrival of four
guests, invited independently bydifferent members of the Bliss
family for a weekend at their
country house near Maidenhead.
The promise of an idyllic week-
end is quickly trounced by the
self-absorbed eccentricities of the
family who leave the guests to slink
away humiliated, embarrassed and
abandoned.
STOMP
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Jan. 22-23
STOMPis explosive, provocative,
sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique
and appeals to audiences of all
ages. The eight-member percus-sion troupe uses everything but
conventional instruments
matchboxes, wooden
poles, brooms,
garbage
cans,
Zippo
lighters, hub-caps to ll the
stage with magni-
cent rhythms.
Macbeth
Lamar University
Feb. 28 - March 3
Director: Joel Grothe
This offering in Lamar Universitys
Bard on the Bayou series is Shake-
speares shortest and bloodiest
tragedy. With themes of corruption
and ambition, it is a chilling explo-
ration of what lengths humans go
to maintain power.
VIP says: If youve never seenShakespeare performed live,this the perfect opportunity.Reading it in the tenth grade is acompletely different experiencethan seeing it brought to life ina dark theatre. Lamar studentsare sure to give a ne dramaticperformance of this powerfultheatrical work.
Neil Simons Biloxi Blues
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
March 1
Neil Simons hit play follows the
adventures of Eugene Morris
Jerome and his fellow Army induct-
ees as they struggle through basic
training near Biloxi, Mississippi in
1943. Biloxi Blues is a comedy
about young men going off to war.
These men are universal soldiers
facing the same fears, anxieties,
and loneliness that grip all young
recruits about to encounter the
ultimate test of combat.
Rabbit Hole
Beaumont Community Players
March 29-30, April 5-6, 11-13
Director: Donny Avery
Dealing with the most traumatic
event any parent can endure t
death of a child author David
Lindsay-Abaire manages to invo
his audience and illustrate how w
all grieve differently and for dif-
ferent lengths of time. Despite th
subject matter, this 2007 Pulitze
Prize-winning play is often ex-
tremely funny, setting up emotio
contrasts between ironic humor
and innite sadness which makethe loss of the child more poigna
March >>
Shatners World We Just
Live In It...
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Jan. 7
Explore this 90 minute one-man
show with television and movie
legend William Shatner on a voy-age through his life and career,
from Shakespearean stage actor
to internationally known icon and
raconteur, known as much for his
unique persona as for his expan-
sive body of work on television and
lm.
VIP tip: In addition to your showticket, you may purchase a$40 post-show pass, whichwill allow you to meet WilliamShatner, snap his photo and get
his autograph. Your purchasebenets The All Glory Project, anon-prot campaign of to thankour wounded veterans and theirfamilies.
January >> February >>
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Camelot
Beaumont Community Players
May 10-11, 17-18, 23-25
Director: Paula Bothe
In this lavish adaptation of the
Broadway musical, the music and
lyrics of Loewe and Lerner weave
this story into an intricate tapestry
of unforgettable heart-stirring
emotions. Camelot is a timeless
romantic drama that takes us to a
medieval world that could only be
imagined in your most romantic
fantasy. The humor is witty, the
music is unforgettable and the
world of Camelot has scenes thatare beyond compare.
Mama Wont Fly
Orange Community Players
Feb. 14-16, 21-24
An outrageously hilarious race
against the clock begins when Sa-
vannah Sprunt Fairchild Honeycutt
agrees to get her feisty mother allthe way from Alabama to California
in time for her brothers wedding.
Savannahs problem: Mama wont
y. With only four days to make it
to the ceremony, this determined
daughter has no choice but to
drive cross-country with her
equally willful mother, Norleen
Sprunt, in Mamas vintage sedan.
As Savannah steels herself for this
hastily conceived road trip, another
outrageous complication arises:
the bubbly, over-eager bride-to-bearrives unannounced.
The Black Watch
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
Feb. 20
The legendary pipes, drums and
highland dancers of Scotlands
Black Watch will join forces with
the Band of the Scots Guardsfor a celebration of four nations:
England, Scotland, Wales and
Ireland. This performance will fea-
ture bagpipes, traditional military
marches, drum solos, Celtic danc-
ing and beloved songs. The event
promises a spectacular evening of
pageantry and excitement for the
entire family.
Heaven Can Wait
Port Arthur Little Theatre
April 19-21, 26-28, May 3-5
Mr. Jordan is checking passengers
who are to depart in an airplane
for the Hereafter. The routine is
interrupted by the arrival of Joe
Pendleton, an attractive prizeght-
er, who refuses to admit he is dead
and induces Jordan to look up
the records, which reveals that
Joe was not scheduled to arrive
for another 60 years! But, as Joe
starts to return to earth to continue
his ghting, word reaches Heaven
that Max Levene, Joes manager,thinking he had been killed had
Joes body cremated, and Joe has
no body to return to.
The Importance of Being
Earnest
Beaumont Community Players
Feb. 22-23, March 1-2, 7-9
Director: David Hornack
Algernon and Jack are friends
who invented imaginary people as
an excuse to get out of engage-
ments. Jacks person, Ernest,
is a brother with a wild past. The
two conspire to woo the ladies
they love, and through a series of
mishaps, must gently deceive to
get what they want. The end result
is a play of incomparable quality,
full of witticisms that are highly
quotable out of context. In fact the
entire play is quotable; such is its
brilliance.
9 to 5: The Musical
Port Arthur Little Theatre
February 14-17, 23-25, March
1-3
This is a hilarious story (remem-
ber the movie) of friendship and
revenge in the Rolodex era. Thismusical tells the story of three
unlikely friends who conspire to
take control of their company and
learn theres nothing they cant
do even in a mans world. With
music written by Dolly Parton
including her country hits 9 to 5
and Backwoods Barbie.
VIP says: Music by Dolly Parton?
If that doesnt get you excited,
then maybe you shouldnt be
reading this. This is sure to be a
hootin hollerin good time. And,those folks at PALT sure know
how to ham things up. So if you
want an evening of laughter
and good ol fashioned fun, then
dont miss this one.
Dreamgirls
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
March 29
Full of onstage joy and backstage
drama, the sensational new
production of Dreamgirlstells the
story of an up-and-coming 1960s
girl-singing group and the triumphs
and tribulations that come with
fame and fortune. Dreamgirls
features the unforgettable hits:
And I Am Telling You Im Not Go-
ing, One Night Only and
Listen.
Hal Holbrook in Mark
Twain Tonight!
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
April 9
Hal Holbrooks legendary one-man
show brings the beloved author to
life with irreverent humor and as-
tonishing authenticity. Millions have
enjoyed the show since its original
Tony and Emmy winning perfor-
mances on Broadway and on TV,
and Holbrook continues to perfect
it, drawing upon his vast
experience on the
April >> May >>
9
. experience on t e
stage and
screen.
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Beaumont Community Playersbeaumontcommunityplayers.com(409) 833-4664
Lamar Universitydept.lamar.edu/cofac/depttheatre/(409) 880-2250
Port Arthur Little Theatrewww.palt.org(409) 727-7258
Orange Community Playersorangecommunityplayers.com(409) 882-9137
Lutcher Theaterwww.lutcher.org(409) 886-5535
The Addams Family
Lutcher Theatre, Orange
June 19-20
The weird and wonderful family
comes to devilishly delightful life in
The Addams Family. This mag-
nicently macabre new musical
comedy is a visually satisfying,rib-tickling, lunatic musical that
will entertain you to death! says
Toronto Post City. Come meet the
family. Well leave the lights
off for you.
June >>
Nunsense A-men
Orange Community Players
May 9-12, 16-19
The Orange Community Players
continue the Nunsense Saga
as began by Jeff Hattman. This
time, theres a hilarious twist
as the Little Sisters of Hobokenlook about as sisterly as Ru
Paul! You may not receive a
spiritual awakening, but you will
have a fun, laugh-out loud
evening.
Houston bound?Looking to spend a weekend in Houston. Houstons Hobby Center and All
Theatre offer a large selection of shows this season, including:
A Christmas Carol
A Few Good Men
Beauty and the Beast
Black Coffee
Blue Man Group
Camelot
Catch Me If You Can
Chicago
Clybourne Park
Death of a Salesman
Flashdance
Jekyll & Hyde
Jersey Boys
Les Miserables
Man of La Mancha
November
Peter Pan
Sherlock Homes
Sister Act
Spamalot
The Elephant Man
The Mountaintop
The Santaland Diarie
Warrior Class
Wicked
Ticket and show informa-
tion: www.thehobbycente
org, www.alleytheatre.org
How to buy tickets
S
46 August 2012 | theVIPmag.com
The Blind Factory
7396 College St.
Beaumont, TX 77707
409.866.4055
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AUGUST 11
Family Arts Day
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Art Museum
of Southeast Texas, Beaumont.
Art activities, face painting,
entertainment, refreshments. (409)
832-3432 or www.amset.org.
Neighbors and Concerts in the Park
4-8 p.m., Magnolia Park, Beaumont.
Free. (409) 838-3613.
Spindletop Roller Girls Roller Derby6:15 p.m., Ford Exhibit Hall,
Beaumont. Tickets at the Ford Park
Box Oce and all Ticketmaster
locations.
Texas Country Music Show
7:30 p.m., Palace Theater, Kirbyville.
Adults $7, children 7-12 $3, (409)
423-3319.
Gary Allan
8 p.m., Coushatta Casino Resort,
Kinder, La. (800) 584-7263.
AUGUST 11
3D and Figure Exhibition
Reception 7-9 p.m. on Aug. 11.,
Beaumont Art League, Beaumont.
Free. Exhibit runs through Aug.
25. (409) 833-4179 or www.
beaumontartleague.org.
AUGUST 12
Gumbo Girl, by Joelle Ford
Reception 2-4 p.m., Museum of the
Gulf Coast, Port Arthur. (409) 982-
7000 or www.museumofthegulfcoast.
org.
AUGUST 16
Vintage Movie Night
Please Dont Eat the Daisies, 6:30
p.m., McFaddin-Ward House Visitor
Center, Beaumont. Free admission,
popcorn and refreshments. (409) 832-
1906 or www.mcfaddin-ward.org
AUGUST 16 - 18
A Salute to the Carol Burnett Show
Variety sketch comedy by the
Orange Community Players, 7:37
p.m. Aug. 16-18, and 2:37 p.m. Aug.
18, Orange Community Playhouse,
Orange. (409) 882-9137 or www.
orangecommunityplayers.com.
AUGUST 17
Kevin FowlerHonky Tonk Texas, Silsbee. (409)
386-1995 or www.honkytonktexas.u
AUGUST 18
Kid Fest
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Beaumont Civic
Center, Beaumont. (409) 896-5555.
Comedian D.L. Hughley
8 p.m., Delta Downs Racetrack &
Casino, Vinton, La. Tickets start at
$35. (800) 589-7441 or (337) 474-
4900.
AUGUST 19
An Intimate Evening with Lindsey
Buckingham
8 p.m., Lutcher Theater for the
Performing Arts, Orange. (409) 745
5535, (800) 828-5535 or www.lutch
org.
AUGUST 23
Comedian Ralphie May
7:30 p.m., Julie Rogers Theatre,
Beaumont. Reserved seats $32.50 a
Ticketmaster locations. (800) 745-
3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Works by Jane PetermanCafe Arts at the Art Museum of
Southeast Texas, Beaumont. Exhibi
runs through November 4. (409) 83
3432 or www.amset.org.
AUGUST 23-25
A Salute to the Carol Burnett Show
See previous listing
September previewSEPT. 8
Lamar Football Home Opener 7 p.m., Provost Umphrey Stadium, Beaumont
SEPT. 11
Annual Gala for Hope Womens Resource Clinic 7 p.m., Holiday Inn, Beaumon
SEPT. 12Ubi Caritas Date Auction 6 p.m., Madisons, Beaumont
SEPT. 14-1630th Annual Texas Bar-B-Q Festival Claiborne Park, Vidor
SEPT. 20-23Texas Pecan Festival Lions Park, Groves
SEPT. 29Gift of Lifes Julie Richardson Procter 5K Ribbon Run/Walk 8 a.m., Beaumont
48 August 2012 | theVIPmag.com
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ACROSS
1 He plays the role of Harry Potter,
Daniel _____
7 Part in a movie
9 Young actress who starred in the
Harry Potter series, ____ Watson10 Zoolander star, Owen ____
12 The Blue Dahlia star, Alan ___
13 __ can do Hall and Oates lyric
14 Author ____ OBrien
15 Spanish for now
17 Some
18 Overtime, abbr.
20 __ Mans car race
21 16th US President
22 School dance
24 One of the Yankees top hitters in
2009, for short
25 Oye como Va singer, ___ Santana
26Go brown in the sun27 Stiff and sore
29 Blue
30 Spider-Man actor, ____ Maguire
DOWN
1 Superman actor, Christopher ___
2 The Da Vinci Code sequel, An
and ____
3 Fearless star, Jet
4 ____ Night Lights5 Throw in your hand at poker
6 S. African golfer, Ernie ___
8 A billion years
10 He made Tha Carter albums, L
____
11 Negative
16 Judy Garlands part in The Wiza
of Oz
17 Comedy duo, ____ and Costello
19 NBC morning show
20 Star Wars director George ____
22 Person who talks to the press
23 Babel star rst name
27Blood group28 French for this
Find answers on page 4
c r o s s w o r d
vip magazine
theVIPmag.com | August 2012
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g u e s t c o l u m n
vp voices
text by Holli Petersen
It is my personal belief that God
has a riotous sense of humor, for
what else could explain the humil-
iating experiences that plague my
life on an almost daily basis? I am
the girl that clumsily stumbles through life
one mistake at a time. Besides acquiring
quite the palate for shoe leather, the only
advantage to each embarrassment is dis-covering a few lessons along the way that
make it all I suppose worthwhile.
One of the most memorable lessons oc-curred several years ago when I was heldhostage in a womans dressing room forthirty tortuous minutes.
Before you pack a pistol in your purse,let me assure you that my assailant wasnot some raving maniac, victimizingwomen in vulnerable situations. In fact,my aggressor wasnt even a person.
It was a dress a beautiful, white A-line dress with a starched peter-pan collarand powder blue buttons up the back.Even from across the department storeoor, I knew I was in love.
It was retro-chic! It paired perfectlywith a pair of pumps in my closet! It was75% o!
And, it was also about three sizes toosmall
Love must be blind because I somehowconvinced myself to try on a dress thatclearly wouldnt t me.
I rationalized that it was a fairly forgiv-ing silhouette. And, I did actually workout a couple of times in the past month.Oh! Didnt someone ask me if Id lost someweight the other day?
My mind was happily aboard thisrose-colored train of thought until I hit anabrupt stop.
Ohhhhh crap.With the dress gathered around my
neck, I had inserted each of my arms intothe impossibly small sleeves, where theyhad become quite permanently stuck, im-mobilized straight out at my sides in themost unnatural of positions. Think ChrisFarley in his famous fat guy in a little
coat scene in Tommy Boy.Only, in this scene I wasnt laughing,
because not only was I stuck, but the restof my body was quite exposed, meaningrequesting assistance from a sales clerkwasnt the most desirable option.
My love for this dress soured as quickly
as it had blossomed. I was suddenlyenraged. I began physically wrestling withthe fabric groaning and grunting andpulling with all my strength. I shudder toimagine what other shoppers might havethought was going on in that dressingroom.
After twenty minutes of struggle, I hadonly managed to work the dress fartherdown my body, thus pinning my arms tomy side instead of in the air. Though I nowhad a bit more range of movement, I wasstill utterly trapped within the connes ofa much-too-tight dress.
Like tourniquets, the sleeves hemline
began choking the circulation from myarms, leaving them tingling and numb.Running on pure adrenaline, I went intosurvival mode and began franticallysearching the deepest, darkest connesof my purse for a tool to release me frommy self-imposed prison. My eorts didntyield much just an old tube of Carmexlip balm. But, desperate times call fordrastic measures, and in total MacGyverform, I began to coat my arms in lip balm,
praying that the extra lubrication wouldhelp coax the sleeves o my arms.
You better believe I was oering upsome of the most fervent prayers of mylife, begging God to free me and promis-ing to never, ever do something so stupidagain.
I dont know if it was prayer or Carmexthat saved me (probably a combination ofboth), but with one giant tug, the dresscame o, leaving me sweaty, and my armssplotchy and bruised.
I quickly threw my clothes back on andtook one nal look at the disheveled messin the mirror.
What was the point of this experience?Yes, clearly I needed to get back in