Covering the February 4th grand opening gala for the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center at University of Memphis brought back fond memories of the late Honey and Rudi Scheidt.
A photo of the couple appeared with the first party I ever covered. It was a visit to Memphis by the Metropolitan Opera. The after-party was at the old Justine’s restaurant. It was in 1980, when I was working for the Memphis Press-Scimitar.
I wasn’t taking photos back then, so the photographer on the assignment took the the picture of the Scheidts. But I took many pictures of the couple later on. I saw the Scheidts at concerts, art exhibit openings, and other cultural events and fund-raisers over several decades.
I got to know Honey and Rudi, and I was always happy to see them at parties. I loved Honey’s graciousness and Rudi’s wit. They were friendly and fun. And I got to know their children — Susan Arney, Rudi Scheidt Jr., Elkan Scheidt, and Helen Gronauer.
The Scheidts were big supporters of Memphis music. In 2000, Rudi gave his first donation for the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at U of M, Arney says. “He gave a huge donation to improve the program and they named it after him,” Arney says.
“They wanted to keep Memphis on the map as far as music,” Gronauer told the audience during the concert portion of the evening. She and her brothers and sister took the stage and talked about their parents and the legacy they left.
Ironically, Elkan said, “None of us can sing a tune.”
The Scheidts are continuing to keep Memphis on the map through their philanthropy. “We Zoom every Monday morning to talk,” Arney says.
And that will continue with the next generation of 11 grandchildren, she adds. “Just any kind of cause, whether charity or not, that we can help make Memphis a better city.”
The gala concert featured the University Symphony Orchestra, University Singers, and the Mighty Sound of the South Pep Band.
Al Kapone, who performed at Rudi’s birthday parties in February for years at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre, was master of ceremonies.
Dionne Warwick was the featured performer. Warwick, who complimented the U of M performers, also sang just about every one of her hit songs by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Her more-than-an-hour-long concert included “Message to Michael,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” and “Anyone Who Had a Heart.”
She performed duets with her drummer, the fantastic David Elliott.
Warwick invited the audience to sing along with “That’s What Friends Are For.” Instead of the lighters music fans once used to show their appreciation back in the day, audience members at the gala waved their lit cell phones.
The evening began with a tour of the building and continued with dinner in a tent. Following the concert, guests returned to the tent for music and dancing to The Bar-Kays. And Krystal hamburgers and Gibson’s doughnuts.
Asked what she thought about the evening, Arney says, “It was magical. To me, for a building opening for the first time and everything being new — all employees, all visitors, all community — and you’re student based, there was nothing that I noticed that went wrong. And truly better than I would have ever expected.”
The 82,000 square-foot Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center cost around $40,000,000, Arney says.
The building is paid for, but much more is needed for the center, Arney told the audience. For instance, they need $1.5 million dollars for grand pianos. The pianos cost $200,000 apiece, she said.
I think it’s safe to say Rudi and Honey would have given the gala a thumbs up. “I know they’re here tonight looking at all of us,” Rudi Jr. said.
Isaac Washington 
Reuters | Bernadett Szabo