Denico and Candace Gray (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Puffer vests and wild white “Doc Brown” wigs were among the costumes at the Back to the Future-themed Orpheum Soirée, which was held November 14th at the Orpheum Theatre.


  • Devir Vanunu, Steve Palmer,
    Suzanne Palmer, and Shachar Vanunu

  • Edgar Rodriguez

  • Josh Coleman and Chelsea Chandler

  • Jackson Barnes

  • Diana and Mark Billingsley

  • Micah Purnell and
    Taliah Sweeney

More than 850 people attended the event, which supports the Orpheum’s education and community engagement initiatives.


  • Laura Alexander Dodds, Lorrie Tingle, Gloria Dodds,
    and Thomas Holmes

  • Kerri Campbell and Nicole Hudson

  • Tracy Marsh and Ryan Marsh

  • Rob DelPriore and Sara Hall

  • Bizzy Walker and Jacob Moore

Ten food stations, including a 1950s style “Orpheum Diner” and a 1980s throwback food court, were sponsored by Orpheum Spotlight Partners.


  • Eric Slaughter, Kristin Bennett, and Brett Batterson

  • Jennifer and Paul Chandler

  • Philip Gattas, Katie Williams, Kelly Brock,
    and Kevin Kern

Michael Donahue began his career in 1975 at the now-defunct Memphis Press-Scimitar and moved to The Commercial Appeal in 1984, where he wrote about food and dining, music, and covered social events until...