Party Pages: Martin Sheen, Jennifer Hudson and Steven Page hit Fort York for the 2012 Bliss Ball
Party Pages: Martin Sheen, Jennifer Hudson and Steven Page hit Fort York for the 2012 Bliss Ball
By Fraser Abe | October 4, 2012
By Fraser Abe | 10/04/2012
Guests at the Bliss Ball benefit for Sick Kids Hospital on Saturday at Fort York certainly got a bang for their 1,500 bucks per ticket. The evening’s organizers managed to recruit a bevy of stars to pitch in, like erstwhile Barenaked Lady Steven Page, who started things off with an acoustic set that included “Old Apartment” and “Brian Wilson” before moving on to his duties as the evening’s emcee. Celebrated actor Martin Sheen and model Selita Ebanks stepped in as auctioneers, while Mark McEwan donned his chef’s whites and prepared ahi tuna, beef tenderloin and an apple crostata.
George W. Bush’ s daughters, Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager, regaled the crowd with stories of their time under Secret Service watch—Jenna joked that the major downside to life without bodyguards is that “now we have to go through regular security at airports.” The big headliner, however, was Academy Award-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson, who we hear was busy steaming clothes right up until her performance. She delivered a Whitney Houston megamix, during which she got inebriated guests to come onstage and dance with her. Sadly, bouncers shooed photographers away from that portion of the evening, but we spotted Larry Rosen taking BlackBerry photos and Ebanks, sipping on a dirty martini, cooing the words and screeching “JHuds!”
169214 After the performances ended around 12:45 a.m., some guests opted to stay and dance to the DJ, while others teetered off to cabs (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall24.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball24/ oct12blissball24 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169213 Jennifer Hudson (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall23.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball23/ oct12blissball23 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169212 Singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, who pulled members of the crowd onstage to dance with her while singing, fittingly, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall22.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball22/ oct12blissball22 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169211 Singer Maria Aragon and Martin Sheen (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall21.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball21/ oct12blissball21 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169209 Martin Sheen and Selita Ebanks solicit bids for the auction. Sheen joked that “Everyone in Hollywood wanted to be like Gandhi: thin, tan and moral.” (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball19/ oct12blissball19 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169207 After guests had stuffed themselves on appetizers, 12-year-old YouTube sensation Maria Aragon sang and pranced through the audience (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball17/ oct12blissball17 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169205 Midway through dinner, a ballerina and a soprano came out to entertain the crowd (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball15/ oct12blissball15 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169204 Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball14/ oct12blissball14 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169203 Steven Page with Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager. The twins told the crowd that they saw Page perform in Austin as teenagers (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball13/ oct12blissball13 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169202 Steven Page, formerly of the Barenaked Ladies (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball12/ oct12blissball12 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169210 Brothers Kap and Ajay Dilawri (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall20.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball20/ oct12blissball20 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169200 <em>Little Mosque on the Prairie </em>star Zaib Shaikh and CBC exec Kirstine Stewart (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball10/ oct12blissball10 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169194 Martin Sheen, a guest and Kap Dilawri. The Dilawri Foundation hosted the event (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball04/ oct12blissball04 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169206 The night’s emcee, musician Steven Page (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball16/ oct12blissball16 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169201 Model Selita Ebanks (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball11/ oct12blissball11 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169215 Actor Martin Sheen, who served as auctioneer (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall_intro.jpg 656 380 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball_intro/ oct12blissball_intro 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169191 The tent, before dinner (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball02/ oct12blissball02 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
169190 The entryway, dotted with candles and colour-changing balls, actually confused a few Nuit Blanchers, who unsuccessfully attempted to enter (Image: Erin Seaman) Bliss Ball 2012 Bliss Ball 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/oct12BlissBall01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/bliss-ball-2012/slide/oct12blissball01/ oct12blissball01 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)