Wanted: Experience of post-apocalyptic insanity with hours of mind-blowing entertainment, mayhem and merriment.
You’re thinking about the Winter Wasteland, the theme for this year’s Beaux Art Ball, to be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, at The Art Studio. The BAB is TASI’s largest and most festive fundraiser of the year supporting programming efforts throughout the year.
“While considering the theme for this year’s ball, I wanted to focus on something everyone would be able to participate in,” Ball chairwoman Shanna Hawa said. “I wanted to encourage guests to create their costumes, not buy them; to be creative, have fun and express themselves as they would imagine how life would be after the end of the world.”
The lineup of events will include the crowning of Overlord and Overlady for the most creative costume, a toxic Fall-Out Fashion Show and a Thunder Dome dance party. A Dystopian Drag Show will be one a variety of live performances to surely nuke one’s brain.
“The Art Studio is a place to engage in art, participate in art and live through art,” Hawa said. “So this year, whether you’re an artist yourself or simply a supporter of the arts, we selected a theme where everyone can express themselves in truly unexpected ways.
“The night will feature live music, a variety of dance performances and dancing, a DJ with a special lightshow, and, a silent auction from artists around the area.
Hawa and co-creative chair Larena Busceme have survived the barren landscape to bring SETX what will be a visceral trip into an alternate reality. Their effort with past events, including last year’s Moulin Rouge-themed party, will ensure participants have an extraordinary sensory experience, with the help of sounds, visuals, and interactive elements.
“When Shanna first shared her concept for this year’s Beaux Arts Ball, I immediately wanted to be a part of the crew,” Busceme said. “When you partner a knockout theme with Shanna’s passion and professional production experience, the outcome is going to be top notch.
“The ‘Wasteland’ theme offers participants an opportunity to get creative and look to unconventional objects while assembling their garb. Distressed materials, reworked athletic equipment, and even mysterious plastic hoses all have their place in this world — anything goes.”
Hawa, along with husband Jeremy — also owners of Light Strike Productions — have created a one-of-a-kind video to give friends of The Studio an appetite for mayhem and an aesthetic for costume ideas. The video is shared in TASI’s Facebook page, as well as on Vimeo at vimeo.com/372950154, and other platforms.
“We plan on periodically releasing some videos showing people’s costumes and make-up ideas as we count down days until the event,” Hawa said. “We really want everyone to get excited and create a costume. We will have some special prizes for the winners of the contest. We will also have some online events to build anticipation and also to win some prizes.”
In addition to all the activities, music and shows, the 18-and-over event, will feature adult beverages, heavy hors d’oevres and sweets scavenged from throughout the wasteland.
Tickets are $50 through Jan. 17, and are $60 at the door. Online purchases may be made visiting The Studio website at www.artstudio.org or the event link on Facebook. Click the tickets link to purchase with a credit or debit card.
Tickets are also available, 1-5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, at The Studio, 720 Franklin in downtown Beaumont. Tickets will also be available Dec. 5 during the all-day First Thursday Holiday Shop-O-Rama Extravaganza from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
For more information, call 838-5393, visit www.artstudio.org, or visit The Studio Facebook Events page.
Story by Stephan Malick, ISSUE staff writer