The Dallas Opera Announces Chairs for FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT Events

The Dallas Opera has announced that dedicated philanthropists Dianne B. LaRoe and Mark H. LaRoe have accepted the positions of Chairs of FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT, the spectacular 2017-2018 Season Opening events. Honorary Chairs are Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger.

The season kicks off with the glamorous FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and Luncheon, NorthPark Center presenting sponsor, on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. The Dallas Opera will present fashions by luxury Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo.

FIRST NIGHT, Deutsche Bank Wealth Management presenting sponsor, is the elegant black-tie Pre-Performance Dinner and After-Party surrounding the opening night opera production. Sammons Park in front of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House is the setting for the splendid Pre-Performance Dinner, Friday, October 20, 2017 beginning at 5:30 p.m with a red carpet entrance.

A scrumptious gourmet dinner by Wolfgang Puck Catering begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Sammons Park tent. It precedes the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Samson & Dalila by Camille Saint-Saëns at 8:00 p.m. (note the special curtain time). To cap off the evening's festivities opera-goers will flow into the FIRST NIGHT After Party with the cast where the celebrations continue with more delectable Puck creations and movin' and shakin' on the dance floor.

The Winspear Opera House is located at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX, 75201. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit dallasopera.org/first-night.

"Dianne and I have long recognized the significance of The Dallas Opera as a world class arts organization presenting magnificent opera productions, and as a company that does tremendous work serving our community with its comprehensive education and outreach programs. It is with that understanding that we are so pleased to chair the wonderful FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT Season Opening festivities. We invite everyone to join us, take part in the fun, meet new people, and enjoy some quality entertainment! Our hope is that our participation will encourage new supporters of this great company!" said Mr. LaRoe, Chair of FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT.

"We are eagerly anticipating our 61st Season Opening, especially under the helm of our hard-working chairs Dianne and Mark LaRoe, and we are very grateful for their leadership and dedication" said Keith Cerny, the Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO of The Dallas Opera. "FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT offers a number of varied and exciting events to kick off the season. Whether you are a newcomer to opera or a veteran, we welcome your participation and support. We have planned a stimulating and diverse 2017-2018 Season and FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT helps us anticipate all the great productions and events we have in store for our North Texas patrons!"

Dianne B. LaRoe has been active in supporting the communities in which she has lived all of her career. Originally from Little Rock, she moved to Texas to attend Texas Christian University and moved to Dallas upon graduation. She immediately began volunteering with the Junior League of Dallas and other local charities. She is Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Incarnation House and is a new member of the Crystal Charity Ball. She is president elect of the USA Film Festival and will serve as a member at large of the Women's Board of The Dallas Opera. Dianne and Mark served as Chairmen of TACA Gala 2016. Dianne is an active member of the Church of the Incarnation serving on several committees there including Angel Tree, Granger Ministries and Altar Guild. While in Florida, Dianne served on the Board of Directors for the Center For Creative Education and Turtle Nest Village/Kids@Home. Dianne and Mark have been married for 35 years and have three adult children.

Mark H. LaRoe is a Private Banker and the Head of Dallas Private Banking for Deutsche Bank Wealth Management. He provides comprehensive and customized financial solutions to ultra-high net worth individuals, families and their related interests.

Mr. LaRoe joined Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management (now Deutsche Bank Wealth Management) in 2014 with more than 30 years of industry experience. Most recently he was Senior Managing Director at J.P. Morgan in Dallas, and led the J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Florida before returning home to Dallas in 2011. Prior to that, he held a variety of production and management positions with Comerica Bank in Texas, as well as its predecessor banks, from 1982 through 1997. He has extensive experience in commercial, real estate, and asset-based lending, led valuation teams for bank purchases during the Texas banking crisis of the 1980s and 1990s and created a Southwest region healthcare banking practice for Comerica.

Mr. LaRoe is on the boards of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Museum of Art and The Dallas Opera. He is President of the Incarnation Foundation and a Commander in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

Mr. LaRoe received a B.B.A. from Texas Tech University with a concentration in finance. He currently holds Series 7, 9, 10, 24, 63, and 66 licenses. He can be reached at (214) 740-7703 or emailed at mark.laroe@db.com.

IF YOU GO:

2017-2018 FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT

PRESENTED BY THE DALLAS OPERA

FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and Luncheon

NorthPark Center Presenting Sponsor

Thursday, October 19, 2017

11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Kick-Off Event for the 2017-2018 Season

Chairs: Dianne B. and Mark H. LaRoe

Honorary Chairs: Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger

Fashion Show and Luncheon Chairs: Lisa Cooley, Ciara Cooley, and Bela Cooley

Featuring: Fashions by Salvatore Ferragamo

Catering: Wolfgang Puck

Location: Winspear Opera House

Tickets: Start at $500

www.dallasopera.org/firstsight

FIRST NIGHT Pre-Performance Dinner and After Party

Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Presenting Sponsor

Friday, October 20, 2017

5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Celebrating the 2017-2018 Season of The Dallas Opera

Event Chairs: Dianne B. and Mark H. LaRoe

Honorary Chairs: Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger

Dinner Chairs: Betty and Steve Suellentrop

Featuring: Red carpet excitement; gourmet black tie dinner prior to the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Samson & Dalila, followed by AFTER PARTY

Location: Sammons Park in Front of the Winspear Opera House - Tent

Catering: Wolfgang Puck

Tickets start at $1,000

www.dallasopera.org/firstnight

AFTER PARTY

Friday, October 20, 2017

11:00 pm to 1:30 am

Location: Sammons Park in Front of the Winspear Opera House - Tent

Featuring: Dallas String Quartet

Catering: Wolfgang Puck Sweet & Savory, Open Bar

Tickets: Included with First Night Ticket Purchase

Season subscriptions are on sale and prices start at $95 for all five opera productions. The benefits of becoming a Dallas Opera subscriber include substantial savings off single ticket prices, priority seating, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchanges and invitations to special events. For more information, please contact the The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214-443-1000 or visit us online at www.dallasopera.org.

The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House is located in the heart of the Arts District at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

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