The 2005 Super Party: Glitz and Glam

Paul Szczesiul

It was all glitz and glam on Sunday, November 20 at the Golden Gate Yacht Club. Over 140 Supers and their guests assembled at that spectacular venue, with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace of Fine Arts, Alcatraz, the bay and the San Francisco skyline. Unseasonably warm weather and crystal-clear skies were an added present.

Friends chatted and caught up with each other during the cocktail hour preceding dinner. Several were spotted appropriately attired in an array of costumes, including Katherine Brazaitis as a tin soldier, Kimberly Thompson in a spectacular dress she purchased at the Costume Shop sale, Frank Sommers as a Cossack and Barbara Sherman as Queen (please note, that’s with a capital Q).

The dinner bell was rung by committee-member Bradly Hamilton and the buffet line moved along, as guests chose between grilled breast of chicken and grilled tri tip. Also on the menu was a puree of truffle-infused Yukon Gold potatoes, roasted Mediterannean vegetables, and a yummy mushroom spinach salad. Dinner was conceived and executed by Executive Chef Michael Buffington of Intimate Catering. Wine flowed, conversation spun, and the party was off and running.

While cake and coffee were being served, the evening’s entertainment began. With writer-director-producer Charlie Lichtman otherwise involved in the final three productions of the season and another show with the San Francisco Symphony, this year the skit was replaced by performances by bass Matthew Treviño and tenor Brian Frutiger, singing excerpts from opera as well as American musical theater. The two Merolini brought the audience to their feet.

The lovely and talented Priscilla Lore was up next to acknowledge some of those who have made special contributions this year. Among those recognized were Joan Imbeau, Irene Bechtel, Kimberly Thompson, Sharon Castle, Tom Carlisle, Rene DeJarnatt, the Spearhead Web Site Team, as well as everyone who contributed to the bake sales and garage sale during the year.

Committee members Kimberly Thompson and Rob Wonder presented the Hammy Awards (lovingly hand-crafted by Super John Janonis) to deserving Supers for performances during the season. Al Heibein, who was replaced late in the process as Lt. Bush in Doctor Atomic but still had to show up as the alternate throughout the run, received the “Alternate’s Nightmare” Hammy. The “Show Must Go On” Hammy was presented to Ron Mann who, after surviving not one but two ankle injuries in the line of Supering duty, taped up and actually included his hobbling into his demanding portrayal of Vlad the Impailer in L’Italiana in Algieri. Other Hammies were presented to Alec Page and Alexander Roe in Rodelinda, and John Guglielmeli in La Forza del Destino, Steve Clarke in Fidelio, Walt Thorp in The Pearl Fishers, and Eddie Gordillo in L’Italiana in Algieri. Somehow, the blue-butt boys in Norma were left standing awardless with their butts to the audience, obviously an error on the part of the Super Committee.

The final Hammy of the evening for following the strict House rules pertaining to Supers, including remembering to sign in (well, except that one time), being able to take stage direction, and never being seen eating in costume, while portraying her character in The Magic Flute for Kids in a convincing manner, the "Seeing the Forest for the Tree” Hammy went to first-time Super Pamela Rosenberg. It seemed that Pamela was truly grateful for being chosen for the award, and was stunned to also receive additional recognition for the job she has done as General Director for the past five years. A silver spear pin, created by silversmith Super Keith Bartell was also presented to her.

In presenting the pin, the following remarks were made: "Tonight we would like to acknowledge Pamela Rosenberg for the contributions she has made to San Francisco Opera and the City of San Francisco during her time as General Director. She could have no idea when she arrived that she would see the dot-com implosion and the events of September 11, all while trying to steer this endeavor called the San Francisco Opera. In addition to bringing the company back to sound financial footing and successfully completing a series of labor contract negotiations, she has brought San Francisco a dazzling array of productions, including Saint Francoise D’Assisse, Le Grand Macabre, and the world premiere of Doctor Atomic. We saw bold new productions and had the opportunity to work with exciting directors and an array of singers never heard before in San Francisco. Tonight, we Supers say ‘Thank you’, Pamela Rosenberg."

To close the evening, Super Coordinator Carrie Murphy presented the Super of the Year Award to Tom Carlisle for all of the many ways he supports Supers and the opera all year long. Some of the many ways he serves Supers include his insightful interviews for The Spearhead, creating the Super scrapbooks, arranging Super photo ops for all the productions, arriving early at Opera in the Park to lay claim to the space in front of the stage for all Supers, and being our institutional memory bank. Thank you, Tom Carlisle for your many years of service as a super Super.

Opera General Director David Gockley was also in attendance, mixing with the crowd and showing how comfortable he can be with the likes of the Supers. Perhaps this is a foreshadowing of things to come.