Party Line: A Swank affair

Photo by Michael Donahue // Buy this photo

Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank (center) was a special guest at the FedExFamilyHouse “Home is Where the Heart is Gala” on Saturday night at The Peabody. With her are (from left) Trent Luckinbill and party hosts Molly Smith and Allison and Richard Smith.

Not every fundraiser can boast an Oscar-winning actress as one of the guests, but the FedExFamilyHouse "Home is Where the Heart is Gala" counted Hilary Swank among the attendees Saturday night at The Peabody.

Hilary was the guest of Molly Smith, daughter of Diane and FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith. Molly and Hilary are business partners in a production company, 2S Films. Molly and her brother, Richard Smith, and his wife, Allison, hosted the party.

Pat Kerr Tigrett, who knew Hilary before the party, said, "She's so real. And she has the most killer talent. In fact, I told her the night before last, the first time I saw her in a movie was 'Boys Don't Cry,' 'You almost needed a seatbelt to sit and watch that performance.' It was so extraordinary. It really was compelling."

Hilary, Molly and Allison visited Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and the FedExFamilyHouse on Saturday, said Kavanaugh Casey, Le Bonheur Foundation executive director. "Hilary was just so down to earth and warm and so sweet with the kids, very interactive with them and with the staff there," she said. "She just was just a delight to be with and have her be a part of all that. ...

"Hilary told me she and Molly have been friends about 10 years, ever since Molly went out to Hollywood. Molly asked her to come and be a part of the party ... and the gathering, which was great, because I'm sure it helped us attract additional people who were interested in seeing Hilary."

One of the items in the live auction included a visit to the set of "Beautiful Creature," a movie that will be shot this spring in Louisiana. "Hilary and Molly were the ones who helped auction that off," Kavanaugh said. "It was really cute. They got up and sort of encouraged people to bid, (telling them) what is was like to be on a movie set. Sort of teasing people, 'Who knows? You might be in one of the scenes.'"

More than 400 people attended the gala, said Susan Graf, FedExFamilyHouse advisory council chairman. She heard they netted between $210,000 and $230,000. "We were thrilled," she said. "We've only been open since December 2010. Since then, we've served 4,200 people -- 1,400 families -- at no cost to them."

Music for the evening was provided by harpist Bill Butner and Kevin and Bethany Paige.

'AbunDANCE' preview

Guests at a preview party Thursday night at Dixon Gallery and Gardens mingled with dancers, sipped wine and watched video clips of works to be featured in Ballet Memphis' upcoming "AbunDANCE: Reflections."

Dorothy Gunther Pugh, Ballet Memphis founder and artistic director, introduced the clips and the dancers affiliated with the pieces. Steven McMahon talked about "Soul Selects Her Own Society," which he choreographed; Crystal Brothers discussed "Angels in the Architecture," which she has performed numerous times; Kendall Britt talked about "Takademe," in which he performed; and Travis Bradley discussed "Venetian Reflections," in which he performed.

"AbunDance: Reflections" will be Feb. 17-19 at Playhouse on the Square.

Souled on Memphis

Describing "Recorded in Memphis," Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum director John Doyle said the new exhibit tries to show "what the studios are doing today. ... The different dynamics of what the city is doing today as opposed to what it did."

John, who was at the recent opening reception for the show, said the exhibit features "a presentation of the A-list musicians who migrate to Memphis to record today." These include the White Stripes, Gin Blossoms, U2, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Keith Richards and rapper Lil John. "Photos, albums and text panels tell the stories that were acquired from interviews with engineers at Memphis' various studios."

Beat Baggenstos, on a visit to Memphis from Zurich, Switzerland, just happened to be at the museum during the reception. Beat, who is interested in blues music, earlier had been to Sun Studio. "I'm reading a book, 'Deep Blues,' by Robert Palmer," Beat said as he took a break from viewing Memphis music history. The museum collection, he added, is a "visceral addition to the stuff I'm reading."

Ennead coronation

Carnival Memphis held its first krewe coronation of the year Jan. 21 and followed it with its second on Saturday night.

The Grand Krewe of Ennead's coronation at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis kicked off the string of coronations, which will culminate with the Crown and Sceptre Ball on June 1 at the Hilton Memphis.

Julie Eaves is queen, and Richard is king of Ennead. The duchesses are Cindy Price, Peggy Edwards and Lillie Kay Mitchell. The dukes are Ricky Warren, Greg Maksi and Bernie Krock. Daniel Tucker is flag man. Ellen Patrick is Ennead chairwoman.

The Grand Krewe of Ptah held its presentation, "Romance in Rome," at the Great Hall in Germantown. Cindy Shaw is queen, and Donnie Angel is king of the Grand Krewe of Ptah. The duchesses are Barbara Benstein, Susan Angel and Mary Stewart. The escorts are Ricky Parham, Al Owings and Chuck Stewart. Johnny Shaw, Jeff Box and Tommy Pollard are the royal guards. Anita Howald is Ptah chairwoman.

-- Michael Donahue: (901) 529-2797; donahue@commercialappeal.com

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