The annual IS 183 Art School of the Berkshires costume ball and dance party has evolved to become one of those mythic—and epic—galas that define a certain bobo Berkshire lifestyle. The yearly challenge is to create a party that surpasses the previous one in both creativity and fundraising since this is the most important benefit for the Stockbridge-based community art school that allows people of all ages, means and skills to have hands-on experience in the visual arts. So how do you top 2010's Radioactive Bodega and 2009's Hair Ball? You come up with a theme—Anime Hothouse—that is inherently psychedelic and you rent out Elm Court, the old Vanderbilt estate in Lenox that is invariably described as the largest shingle-style house in America.
"Ticket sales have been so strong from word of mouth that we didn't have to send out printed invitations," says IS 183 director Hope Sullivan, who says there's a waiting list for the dinner party and only a handful of dance party tickets remaining for the April 9 gala. "People are really excited to go to Elm Court because they have not been there for a thousand events before." And they are animated by the notion of dressing up as horticulturally-affected, Japanese-style animated characters. More than a dozen of IS 183's stalwarts gathered at a private greenhouse in Sheffield a few weeks ago to create publicity photos to promote the party. (Actress Hilary Somers Deely showed off the black contact lenses she ordered from Korea to wear as part of her costume.) "We always do these photo shoots to give people ideas for what to wear, but I've never seen enthusiasm like this before," says Sullivan. "I think the juxtaposition of theme and location will make this the most incredible party ever." IS 183 Anime Hothouse GalaApril 9, 2011 Lenox, MA Related Posts: Radioactive Bodega: IS 183's Post-Apocolytpic Dance Party — March 07, 2010 The IS 183 Art School "Hair Ball" Was Over-the-Top — March 15, 2009 The School of Rock: IS 183 Parties in Pittsfield — March 2, 2008
