Social Seens... Photography by Gram
Opera Tampa Grand Gala
Opera Tampa’s Grand Gala, which was produced by the Opera Tampa League’s board of directors and held in the
David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, had a La Belle Époque theme in honor of its final opera of the season,
Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. The 2019 Anton Coppola Excellence in the Arts Award, sponsored by Charles and Faith “Cookie”
Simmons, was presented during the gala to bass Paul Plishka, a leading member of the Metropolitan Opera roster since 1967.
Opera Tampa started in 1995, and will celebrate its 25th anniversary during the upcoming season.
Catherine Straz and her husband David,
for whom the performing arts center is
named, were sponsors of the gala and the
high bidders during its live auction.
Dr. Zena Lansky and her husband Warren
Rodgers were co-chairs of the gala committee
for the second year in a row and aria
sponsors of this fundraiser that helps to
support grand opera in Tampa.
Ernie Lisi and his wife Judy, who is
the general director of Opera Tampa and
the president and CEO of the Straz Center,
dressed in costumes from the opera
Aida, which will conclude the opera
company’s 25th season in 2020.
JULY/AUGUST 2019 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 167
Gary Sasso, chair of the Straz Center’s board
of trustees, and his wife Karen were pleased
that the oil painting he created of Maestro
Anton Coppola and Coppola’s nephew
Francis Ford Coppola brought such a high bid.
Dean Kuhne and his wife, Dr. Susan Roper
of the Countryside Dermatology and Laser
Center in Clearwater, were aria sponsors
of this year’s Opera Tampa Gala.
Mary K Wilson and her husband John,
the retired TV personality who served
as the gala’s master of ceremonies, helped
to make the evening a success.