Bravissimi…

For 80 years, the Celebrity Series of Boston has been bringing world-class performances to stages throughout the city, and to raise the money needed to do it, the Cyclorama at the BCA was transformed into a glittering party scene for the black-tie Shine! Gala.

Stephanie Brown and Ivana Magovcevic-Liebisch at Shine! Gala

The evening began with cocktails and schmoozing and continued with dinner, performances and dancing. Among the philanthropists and socialites on hand: co-chairs Stephanie Brown and Ivana Magovcevic-Liebisch, her handsome husband, Lars, Greenway grand pooh-bah Jesse Brackenbury and his stunning wife, Eileen, London “it” girl Sophie Ali, Teutonic goddess Molly Schoeck and the dashing Guy MacDonald, the swanlike Susie Friedman, the statuesque Susie Gheyssari, impish scamp Kyle Thomas Hemingway, the radiant Sara Robinson, Chinatown panjandrum Giles Li and his gorgeous other half, Sopheak Tek, and one woman who said, “This isn’t a cleavage kind of dress. It’s more a squashed crack kind of dress.”

Joshua Boger, Jann Leeming and Amy Boger at Shine! Gala

Kudos to Ivana for pushing the evening’s fund-a-need to its goal by saying, “C’mon, I haven’t had a drink all evening. You’re the only thing standing between me and a glass of wine.”

However, the party’s best exchange was:

“I’m not that musical. I only play violin and piano.”

“Well, at least those are instruments. I play my iPhone and the lottery.”

Avez-vous dish? Dirt? A spectacular social occasion? Call J.S. at 617-859-1400, ext. 303, or send an email to jonathan@improper.com