The young professionals arm of the National Pancreas Foundation brought the 1970s to Harvard Square on Tuesday night with its fund-raiser. "Tuesday Night Fever: Punk Goes to Discotheque" took over the Oberon at the American Repertory Theatre for a night of go-go dancers, a punk-meets-disco fashion show, and a silent auction to benefit the foundation.
Greeters in gold bell-bottomed suits and Afro wigs met guests at the door, creating a disco theme from the moment guests arrived. Inside, performers clad in gold hot pants and body glitter danced for—and sometimes with—guests and on platforms in the center of the club, while retro episodes of Soul Train played on a large screen behind them. The dancers were cast members of The Donkey Show, the Shakespearean disco show running Saturday nights at the Oberon.
“We wanted to create this really fun, over-the-top event to create buzz,” said Maegen Holt, who chaired the event-planning committee and used her background in fashion to help create the event. “The goal was to raise awareness about the foundation and pancreatic diseases. They can affect anyone. Raising money was on top of the list, too, but creating a buzz and letting people have a good time was most important. These are young people; for them to buy a ticket and spend their night with us, that was enough.” The 12-person planning committee kept costs down through the generosity of the vendors, all of whom donated their talents and services, Holt said.
The fashion show itself included a literal meeting of the punk and disco genres in clothing form and models dancing and walking through the crowd and posing on platforms in the center of the floor.
Volunteers Danielle Kupsc (owner of Flock) and Kendra Amin Dufton styled pieces from local retailers Dress, Flock, Looc, Uniform, Red Bird Vintage, Samantha House Jewelry, and Rescue: Buy, Sell, Trade to create looks that included a sequin minidress alongside a denim vest with a fur collar paired with animal-print leggings, plus a made model in a camouflage jacket and combat boots; and another in jeans, a plaid shirt, velvet blazer, and an Afro wig—the most obvious juxtaposition of punk and disco.
The hair and makeup—provided by Trephin Salon and makeup artist Michelle Clark—was as period-perfect as the clothes, with bright blue and pink makeup and teased, curled, and huge hair keeping things playful.
Though the timing was a challenge, Holt said, with many potential guests traveling the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, this casual fashion-show format is one the committee will replicate in the future. “For a young professional event, it’s nice to get people in the door, get people talking,” she said. “I’m ready to do it again tomorrow!”
