July 2012 · Vol. XIV, No. 1 GUEST
LETTER
Pink at the Brown Record-setting event benefits from the power of the arts
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S
performer in from New York: Lar Lubovitch Pink at the Brown completely captures the misDance Company. Houston Symphony gave us sion of Pink Ribbons Project. As most of you an unexpected twist on Gershwin’s Summertime know, Pink Ribbons Project was formed when Jane Wiener, a professional dancer in New York, via a brass quintet made up of its top horn learned that her sister in Houston, Susan Rafte, players. Students from Alley Theatre read thehad breast cancer. Jane and friends organized matic monologues and Houston Grand Opera a performance to raise funds to send breast regaled the audience with its maricancer survivors to achi opera performed in Spanish. Washington to testify Houston Ballet sent two pieces — before Congress to the lusciously romantic pas de deux seek approval of from Stanton Welch’s Madame new drugs for treatButterfly and the witty The ing breast cancer. That Gentlemen, which caused the testimony lead to FDA audience to erupt into applause approval of new cancerand bravos. A record number of fighting drugs. Susan people attended the event and, was later able to take importantly, it raised more money one of those drugs, than ever before. Pink at the Taxotere, which allowed Brown also honored three her to improve enough to Houstonians and one foundathen undergo a stem-cell tion who have done much right): n Chairs (left to transplant in 1997. Today, to fight cancer and help Pink ow Br e th at Pink hens d S. Shawn Step both Susan and Jane are Ribbons Project: Ronald DePinho Shelly Power an vibrant forces in Houston. (MD Anderson), C.C. Conner (Houston Ballet), Pink at the Brown carries on that tradition of Cora Sue Mach (businesswoman, philanthropist using the arts, specifically the performing arts, and survivor), and the Scurlock Foundation. to raise money to fight breast cancer. This year’s I was honored to be asked to chair Pink at the Brown was record-setting in every Pink at the Brown for a number of reasons. way. The performances were terrific and there First, I’ve always known that art doesn’t was “something for everyone” in them because just entertain. It can teach us things that a lecall the Theatre District performing-arts groups ture can’t. I was a serious ballet student as a participated in the most successful Pink at the child/young adult and my godfather was a Brown ever! There was a glorious piano solo locally famous actor, so I was exposed to a lot from Da Camera of Houston. Society for the of art from a young age. I’ve felt the lessons Performing Arts sent a fabulous modern dance taught by art in my soul. For example, I’ll never continues on page 7
In this issue:
LETTER
Dear Friends and Family: I am not a daredevil, nor would I consider myself an adventurer — however, I take pride in the fact that I would try anything once. Skiing crazy, snowy slopes, crawling on giant logs over fern canyons, tasting my grad-school roommate’s version of chicken cacciatore made with tofu. And to my mother’s despair, I cannot wait to skydive one day! However, I did have one fear since I was a small child — swimming. Words cannot express (even with the help of thesaurus.com and much therapy) the fear I have in the deep end of a pool, open water, ocean. The joke I would tell people when I was faced with having to swim is, “I grew up as a figure skater — I prefer my water frozen!” I took many swim lessons and listened to many a lectures of “you just float in salt water, I swear!” to no avail, and I just concluded I would live my life perfectly happy sitting on a towel by the beach or chillin’ out in the shallow end with my feet safely on the ground. Then, this past month I was lucky enough to travel with my husband’s family to the beautiful country of Belize — where one goes to scuba dive, snorkel and simply enjoy the (depths of) the ocean. In order to appreciate the trip to its fullest, I needed to figure out (and fast) how I could be in the water and feel safe, confident and like Ariel in The Little Mermaid. And that’s when I got my new friend — a life jacket. As soon as I slowly crawled into the sea, let go of the continues on page 7
Rugby for a Cause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Pink Power spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The arts come to life at Pink at the Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Lemonade Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Drink Pink! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Oncotype DX for early stage breast cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6