Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – A multiverse of personalities and possibilities was briefly cracked open on the 10th floor of the Union Trust Building, Saturday night for Quantum Theatre’s annual Q Ball, Quantum Leap.
More than 300 guests were encouraged to come as who they want to be, a past or future self or as they are now — all versions welcome.
This year’s mind-blowing event was chaired by Katie O’Malley and Kevin Acklin and Shelly Pagac and Andrew Barnes.
This was O’Malley’s first year on the board of Quantum and her first time chairing the ball.
“I have been to the Q balls and to the productions and gotten to know the wonderful group of people who serve on the board and the creative and talented people who work on stage and behind the scenes to make Quantum productions possible,” she explained.
“Shelly [Pagac] was the board member who reeled me in,” she recalled with a laugh.
Many guests interpreted the Quantum multiverse as rather shiny and metallic. Pagac was dressed as a kind of futurist Statue of Liberty in shimmering silver.
Seeing the big picture, artistic director and founder Karla Boos recalled those first Q Balls in the homes of early supporters.
“It really has gone through a revolution from being small and bearing the evidence of our artists when we went into unusual spaces and it kind of pulled back for some years and now we have this young, magnificent, creative team full of energy,” noted Boos. “To me it feels like a return to those Q Balls that bear the creativity.”
In a place where everything and everyone is possible, live music by Treasure Treasure and Quintessence made the perfect soundtrack.
DJ Selecta filled the dance floor and a long line of guests wanting to know more about their future selves formed outside Rosebush Tarot, the tarot card reader’s room. They could watch Iron City Aerial perform gravity-defying feats while they waited.
Jon Tai had his own interested throng as he performed magic tricks.
“We are thrilled for the energy tonight and hoping to gross $90,000,” said executive director Julie DeSeyn.
Mingling among the many selves were Kelly Boyer, Tacy Byham, Caryn Rubinoff, Nachum Golan and Steve Hough, Richard Parsakian, Wendy Mitchell, Pam and Ken McCrory, Bevin Barker, Anna Hollis and Greg Kander, Marcy Metelsky, Mary Beth and David Johnson, pastry chef Zoe Peckich and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra president Melia Tourangeau.
