Rock around the clock

It was an all-day celebration at the University of the Arts on April 18. First, UArts president Sean T. Buffington was inaugurated in festivities that featured a student jazz band and giant puppets. Later, in an unrelated event, the university cut loose with a 1950s and '60s dance party at Dorrance Hamilton Hall. Decked out in poodle skirts, letter sweaters, Chuck Taylor sneakers, and black leather jackets, nearly 300 university friends, faculty and alumni turned out for Bandstand on Broad. The party, chaired by Dodo Hamilton and Norma Klorfine, really got rocking when the Duprees made a surprise appearance and performed four of their doo-wop hits, including "You Belong to Me."

Curtain call    

Actor and Philadelphia native Robert Prosky was honored Saturday at the Walnut Street Theatre's 199th birthday gala at the Union League. Also receiving the Edwin Forrest Award was former Walnut board president Jack Graham. Cast members of the Walnut's forthcoming production of Les Miserables entertained the 300 guests with a selection of Les Miz hit songs, including "Bring Him Home," performed by Temple grad and Broadway star Hugh Panaro. Cochaired by Camille Andrews and Albert A. Giagnacova, the black-tie gala raised more than $60,000 for the Walnut's education and outreach programs, which serve more than 100,000 children in the area.

Patrons and palettes    

Mayor Nutter was the honorary gala chair for the Center for Emerging Visual Artists' 25th anniversary gala held April 17 at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. More than 200 artists and guests attended the celebration, which honored the center's chief executive, Maida Milone, who is stepping down after six years in the job. Paintings, drawings and sculpture were donated by 40 alumni and fellows of the center's two-year Career Development Program and sold at the gala, raising $10,000. The gala, chaired by Marc and Ann Laupheimer Sonnenfeld, raised $114,000 for the center, which helps to promote the careers of up-and-coming visual artists.

Greek gala

Drexel University president Constantine "Taki" Papadakis received the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's highest honor, the William Penn Award, at its annual black-tie gala held April 18 at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. The evening's all-Greek theme featured a Greek dance troupe, table favors of worry beads and Greek olive oil, and a Greek menu that included Mediterranean salad with spanakopita, pan-seared scallops, and baklava. When the 1,000 business and civic leaders weren't networking, they were dancing to the 13-piece EBE London Band. The event was cochaired by C. R. "Chuck" Pennoni, Manuel N. Stamatakis, and Judith M. von Seldeneck.

Money matters

Adm. Thomas C. Lynch, former superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, was honored by EconomicsPennsylvania at its annual Adam Smith Leadership Award dinner on Thursday at the Radnor Financial Center. Among the evening's 500 guests were Gov. Rendell, Mayor Nutter, and Dallas Cowboys Hall-of-Famer Roger Staubach. The dinner, cochaired by Mike Carter of the Musser Group and Marla Green of Radnor Trust Co., raised $250,000 for EconomicsPennsylvania. The statewide program, which provides lesson plans and student activities about economic concepts to teachers in 300 Pennsylvania school districts, reaches 125 schools in Philadelphia.