Dracula in Vogue

“That’s really the mark of a successful event – that everybody here believes in what we’re trying to do, believes in the vision,” said Dr. Nicole Callahan, board president of State Street Ballet and co-chair, with Alex Nourse, of its Victorian Vogue gala at the Music Academy of the West.

The evening was deliciously Dracula-forward, with a glimpse of their upcoming Dracula, a dark shadow, opening the season at the Granada Theatre in October, on Halloween weekend. Hauntingly visceral – viewer beware – so buckle up and get ready for a frightfully good show.

“Everybody who’s here, even if you’re a guest of someone, you’re invested in this company. You want to support the company,” said Nicole, citing its “mission and outreach and great art.” A Santa Barbara native, former dancer, and Columbia University PhD who still takes class “standing in the back,” Callahan said connection mattered most.

Dodging Dracula’s bite were Cheryl Goldberg, Mary Dorra, Jenna and Avi Reichental in gothic attire; Gary Simpson and Jill Nida in Victorian velvet, Colleen Graffy whose ghoulish neck bite was not for the faint of heart, and Brooks Firestone in a dashing blood red foxhunt coat – who this summer celebrated 68 years of marriage to his own lovely ballerina, Kate Firestone.

Executive Director Cecily MacDougall called this “a time of immense growth, of new opportunities, of leaps of faith, and of miracles,” thanking supporters “from the bottom of my heart and the tips of my toes.” A $100,000 gift from Joan Davis and the Robert and Mercedes EichholzFoundation was matched with another $100,000 for the new Santa Barbara Choreography Institute.

The gala tipped its top hat to Roger Thompson for 15 years on the board, honoring his leadership and belief in “creating great art.”

For one gloriously gothic night, Montecito went Victorian – and Dracula had plenty to sink his teeth into.