Titles acquired by Hardy Family inspire Royal Reception at Nemacolin
FARMINGTON – Anyone who is curious about the royal titles that the Hardy Family has acquired need only step into the Lafayette Hospitality room at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Farmington. Here, a series of magnificent life-size portraits of the family members hang on the walls. Created by Washington County artist Ray Dunlevy, these brilliant works showcase each family member while plaques identify their English and Irish titles.
There’s Robin Hardy Freed, who was given the title Lord of the Manor, Henley-in-Arden, by her father, Joe Hardy, who originally acquired the title for himself.
The next wall contains a painting of Peter Jon Magerko with his wife, Margaret Hardy Magerko. He is Lord of Roscrea, County Tipperary, Irish Republic, while she is Countess of Carrick, County Waterford, Irish Republic.
Another wall holds a painting of Kathryn Hardy Drake who is Lady of the Fief, D’Anneville.
The last wall contains the paintings of Hardy’s wife, Debra Maley Hardy, Baroness of Leitrim, County Galway, Irish Republic, who is flanked by their daughters Paige Alexandra Hardy, Baroness of Dungannon, and Taylor Mae Hardy, Baronness of Connemara.
The titles, of course, are the basis behind Nemacolin Woodlands’ annual Royal Reception, a weekend filled with festivities and big-name entertainment.
“It’s a celebration of those titles and Mr. Hardy’s family,’ explained Kimberly Robson, director of catering and special events for Nemacolin Woodlands. “It’s really just evolved into a good time.’
Royal Reception XIII will be held Friday through Sunday, June 27-29, this year and features comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld; tap dancer, actor, director and musician Gregory Hines; and rock band The Doobie Brothers.
Seinfeld, who was voted the Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic at the American Comedy Awards in 1988, became a major star with his television show “Seinfeld,’ which evolved around the comedy of everyday life. It was one of the most popular American television series of all time when Seinfeld ended the show’s run in 1998. He has since returned full-time to stand-up comedy.
The multi-talented Hines grew up as a member of Hines, Hines and Dad alongside his father and older brothers. He spent much of his early career dancing at the Apollo Theater. After leaving his family act in 1973, Hines formed a jazz-rock group called Severance. But he returned to New York for a distinguished Broadway career that gave him a 1992 Tony award for “Jelly’s Last Jam.’
His film roles have included “The Cotton Club’ and “White Nights.’ Hines made his directorial debut with “Bleeding Hearts.’ He released an album in 1987 called “Gregory Hines.’ He also starred in “The Gregory Hines Show’ and made guest appearances on “Will and Grace.’
The Doobie Brothers is a California-based rock bank formed in 1970 whose hits include “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Running,’ “China Grove’ and “Takin’ It to the Streets,’ which all reflect their upbeat, easygoing sound that is influenced by R&B and soul.
They had two number-one hits: “Black Water’ in 1975 and “What a Fool Believes’ in 1979. The group continues to tour and release albums.
The Royal Reception has always included great entertainers such as Robin Williams, Smokey Robinson, Huey Lewis, Burt Bacharach, Peter Noone, Beatlemania, Chef Wolfgang Puck, Tony Randall, Phyllis Diller, Lynn Redgrave, Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Milton Berle.
In the beginning, the entertainers were guests themselves but the reception evolved to have the entertainers perform.
This year’s reception also represents a change in date. Traditionally, Robson explained the Royal Reception has been held in September but was moved to June because of the 84 Lumber PGA Classic.
Participation in the event is also growing with guests coming from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Virginia.
Last year, the reception received its largest attendance ever with 550 guests on Friday night and more than 700 on Saturday. Officials expect to see similar numbers this year.
In fact, last year’s numbers pushed the event into a specially built Royal Arena erected on the airstrip.
“The response was so great last year and the family didn’t want to turn people away so it was Maggie’s idea to have this,’ explained Robson.
The arena is an air-conditioned tent, which measures 132 foot by 148 foot and has no center poles. But participants shouldn’t expect to see anything of a tent once they step inside.
“I work with a design house to make the tent go away so it looks like a room,’ explained Robson. “It becomes its own space from the entry point throughout.’
Most of the activities for the Royal Reception will take place in the Royal Arena. The celebrating begins Friday, June 27, with what Nemacolin staff calls “an opening fit for a king.’ The event opens with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a performance by Hines. Afterwards, the Hardys have brought in a high-energy dance band from Pittsburgh called No Bad JuJu. Cocktail attire is required. Black tie is optional.
The Royal Procession begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with the Hardy Family leading the way into the Royal Arena, flanked by bagpipes and a town crier who announces the family members and their titles. The family walks to the stage where a state of the union report is given on Henley-in-Arden, followed by brunch and entertainment by an acrobatic duo called The Tweaksters. This event calls for formal luncheon attire with jackets required for gentlemen.
The guests will gather again at 6:30 p.m. for the Royal Ball, which begins with a cocktail reception in the Royal Arena, followed by dinner. Afterwards, Seinfeld and The Doobie Brothers will entertain the guests. Cocktail attire is required. Black tie is optional.
The farewell brunch takes place at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Marquis Ballroom. This is the only event held outside of the Royal Arena. The Etta Cox Trio from Pittsburgh will provide entertainment. All of these festivities are open to the public with the resort selling tickets for individual events as well as weekend packages.
This is also the first time the Royal Reception will benefit a charity. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the research of the Children’s Oncology Group and is dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. For more information on the foundation, visit its Web site at www.NCCF.org.
For more information on Royal Reception XIII, call the resort at 877-899-5125 or visit the Web site at www.nemacolin.com.