If it’s Halloween, it’s time for Henri David to shine
“Don’t come as you are, come as you want to be.”
It’s great when Halloween falls on a Friday, because it means the hundreds of Halloweeners attending Henri David’s massive party won’t have to get up early for school, work, or church.
This is the 57th edition, which is always held on Halloween night, because Mr. David is a traditionalist.
But, he doesn’t resist all change.
Such as doors at the Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce, opening at 7:30. It used to be 9, once upon a time. And judging will start at 10, rather than midnight, the bewitching hour.
“If I stay open past midnight, it will cost me a million dollars,” quips Henri, whose soiree used to start at 9 and end whenever.
The move to Kimmel changed the program to more closely follow a theater schedule.
Other things don’t change, such as the party’s motto: “Don’t come as you are, come as you want to be.”
This was me and Half Pint a couple of years back.
Prior to that, I often dressed as a priest, because (as a reporter) I love to hear confessions. A few years I dressed as a judge, for reasons I will explain in a minute.
There are nine categories (and, yes, some overlap): Most Hysterical, Best Comic Book Character, Most Horrifying, Best Sensual Fantasy, Most Original Couple, Best Celebrity Look Alike, Most Beautiful Female Impersonator, Most Believable Female Impersonator, Most Unbelievably Spectacular.
Whew.
Tickets are $25 for people in costume, $75 for voyeurs. (A simple mask counts as a costume.) Tickets can be ordered through the Kimmel at www.EnsembleArtsPhilly.org, or at the door.
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Henri’s first party was in 1968, when being openly gay could be dangerous to your health, but that didn’t stop him. His Halloween party was where gays and straights could socialize, even ogle each other. There is usually a lot to ogle at a Henri Halloween.
Did I mention he is one of Philly’s leading jewelers? Sometimes I forget that not everyone knows everything.
Not to brag, but during my Big Deal days at the Daily News, for many years I was the head judge of the celebrity panel assembled by Henri. I never knew if that was because of my column, or because I was the only judge who was both sober and able to add points. That’s why I wore the judge’s robe.
In any event, now you know.
