Main Street C’ville goes totally ’80s
Big curly wigs were worn by the guys at the 20th annual Partners in Preservation and Taste of the Town Party on Saturday night on the Town Square in Collierville. “Totally Awesome ’80s Night” was the theme.
In his wig and tight zebra-print pants, Terry Trim looked like he stepped out of an old-school hair-metal band. Terry manned the Kooky Canuck restaurant booth along with his 1980s backup- singer- looking daughter, Rylea Trim, and Carolynn Keane.
Betty Werne found her old purple and silver sequined dress and transformed herself into Linda Evans, aka Krystle Carrington” from the 1980s TV series “Dynasty.”
Damon and Dawn Waxler traveled from Cordova for the event. Damon is opening a new business, Dixie Pickers, which he described as a “mantiques” shop, which means the store will feature everything from clothing to vintage items, including record albums, that will appeal to men. The store is slated to open Oct. 10.
Damon looked at locations in other town squares, but when he walked into the old vacant store on the Collierville Square, “the floor creaked under my feet,” he said. “I knew I was home, where I wanted to be.”
Eighteen food stations were featured at the party, said Laura Todd, executive director of Main Street Collierville, which presented the event. Live and silent auctions also were included. Van Gogh’s Ear performed.
Board president Kyle Curran was event chairman. Joyce McKenzie and Joy Leerskov were cochairwomen.
‘BILLY’ CAST PARTY
Memphian Jacob Zelonky was one of the guests at the cast party at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum that followed Friday night’s performance of “Billy Elliot The Musical” at the Orpheum.
Jacob, 13, played “Michael,” Billy’s flamboyant friend, from August 2010 until last July in the touring production.
Born in Malibu, Calif., Jacob moved to Memphis when he was 4. He said he is doing film and TV auditioning in Los Angeles.
He met up with his pal, Zach Manske, at the party. Zach, 13, was one of four actors who played Billy in the show, which closed Sunday. Zach said he played Billy two times, including the Friday night show, during the Memphis run. He shared the title role with Ben Cook, Kylend Hetherington and Noah Parets.
During the riveting show, Zach seemed to constantly change his shoes, from tennis shoes to ballet slippers and back again. “We were trying to count today,” he said. “Tons of shoe changes.”
The Incredible Hook performed music for guests or cast members who were in the mood to dance at the cast party.
A TIARA FOR GRAYCEN
The Tiara Tea Society honors a different child each year, said Lynn Bishop, one of the founders of the group. This year, Graycen Beardslee, 10, was the young woman crowned with a tiara. The event took place Sunday at Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis.
Graycen, daughter of Kimberly Beardslee and Eric Beardslee, has a genetic disease called xeroderma pigmetosum. She has extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet light, which means she has to stay out of sunlight unless she’s wearing protective apparel.
In addition to giving Graycen a tiara, the Tiara Tea Society is making arrangements to send her to a special camp with other children who have the same condition and to provide special orthodontic care. The children do things other kids do at camp, but they do them at night.
In her remarks, guest speaker Rev. Audrey Gonzalez told Graycen: “I know, with the light that is already within you, you will shine. Maybe your environment must be the night. But the moon shines at night. And the moon empowers women. You get to see the stars and probably they shine much brighter to you. The darker the sky, the brighter their glimmer.”
GILLILANDS HONORED
The James Gilliland family was honored at a Planned Parenthood fundraising party Wednesday at Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Several members of the family have been supporters and have served on the board.
On hand were James and Lucia Gilliland and their children, Liz Gilliland, who was with her husband, Pip Wood; Kate Connell, who was with her husband, Coleman, and Jim Gilliland, who was with his wife, Kathryn.
Cotton and Coal performed. Dinner was catered by Just in Thyme. donahue@commercialappeal. com; 901-529-2797