Party back in time ...
excerpt from
Flower Girls blossom at Board of Visitors Ball
By Kathy Shayna Shocket
The Arizona Republic
April 6th, 1998
About 400 guests left the 20th century behind for Saturday night's
Opera Ball at the Arizona Biltmore, Louis XIV (Tracy Henry) and other monarchs greeted guests
at one of the most elaborately decorated balls ever!
Along with authentic opera sets, huge vinyl hangings of reproductions from Paris' Louvre set
the mood for this royal party chaired by Gina Marie Quinn and attorney John Becker. There were
also attention-getting living portraits, including one of The Toilet of Venus by
Velazquez.
Partygoers like Kara Jensen and Eric Richardson represented the 35-and-under crowd. The
Arizona Opera's new director, David Speers, says it's symbolic, because opera audiences are
growing younger, from Calgary to Arizona.
Monica Barrows was among those in authentic costumes flown in from London for this ball,
which raised $100,000.
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