The Valley Line: Teens showcase fashions for friends during Thursday Club tea

Umbrellas and other rain gear were evident even though the sun was shining brightly when the the La Cañada Thursday Club Les Fleurettes debutante provisionals recently held their annual fashion show at the clubhouse. The show was themed “Springin’ in the Rain.”

This special event brought out club members, family and friends that was followed by a lovely tea. This was also a fun preview for future debs to see what this program is all about.

The models for this year’s fashion show included Les Fleurettes provisionals Lauren Gilmour, Megan Gmelich, Sydney Lew, Grace Marchosky, Elena Melehani and Reagan Meyers.

Emceeing this lively soiree were 2016 debutantes Maggie Rouleau and Lauren O’Brien.

Bloomingdale’s provided an eclectic array of clothing for the show that included trendy day outfits and beautiful evening attire. The models also had a personal choice outfit in which they wore their school sport team uniforms or cheerleading outfits.

Thursday Club members involved in the planning were Kim Ortiz, debutante program chair, and Yvonne Marchosly, provisional chair. The committee for this special event included Jody Platisa and Jeanie Kay. Personal development chair is Carolyn Gmelich and runway/modeling instructor for the show was Jane Owen.

Oh what a night it was. The stage musical “Jersey Boys,” the Tony and Grammy Award-winning story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, opened to thunderous applause at the Ahmanson Theatre last week. Mark Ballas reprises his Broadway role of Frankie Valli.

For me, and most of the opening night audience, it was impossible to sit still and not hum along to some of the group’s hit songs that America couldn’t get enough of in the 1960s and ’70s: “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What A Night,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Working My Way Back To You.”

I loved seeing Ballas, a professional dancer, on the “Dancing with the Stars” TV show on ABC. He’s a charismatic and engaging dancer but I had never heard him sing before. All I could say about Ballas’ performance in the musical was “wow!”

With his high-pitched voice sounding much like Valli’s, Ballas is an amazing talent. In addition to his dancing and singing skills, his acting chops aren’t bad, either.

The man who this play is all about, Valli, was in the audience that opening night and I had a brief opportunity to chat with him. He shared that Ballas is doing an incredible job in the role and he likes this L.A production very much.

After the curtain went down there was an intimate gathering of cast members who were excited about their opening night. Keith Hines, who plays the role of Four Season member Nick Massi, was a joy to speak with. “We are like a big family and we are having so much fun with this show,” he said.

Oklahoma born and receiving a master’s degree in music from Oklahoma City University, Hines, who has been living in New York City, said that after touring with this company he plans to pack his New York bags and will come live in L.A., a prospect he is very excited about.

At the cast party I also had an opportunity to have a “mom chat” with Ballas’ mother, Shirley Ballas, who is absolutely adorable. Shirley, who is British born, is an enthusiastic mom. She said she will be at every performance of the show, which wraps up here in L.A. on June 24.

An award-winning competitive ballroom dancer herself, specializing in Latin dances, Shirley Ballas is soon headed for London where she has been named the head judge, taking over for Len Goodman, on that country’s popular dancing show, “Strictly Come Dancing.”

Shirley and her then husband, Corky, trained American dancers Julianne and Derek Hough when they were sent to London as children to study with her.

Along with Hines and Ballas, the other Four Seasons cast members at this Ahmanson L.A. production are Matthew Dailey, playing Tommy DeVito, and Cory Jeacoma, who plays Bob Gaudio.

JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event.