Brightly colored paper lanterns hanging in the ballroom and the clubroom, along with other splashes of vivid hues (handiwork of decorating mavens Barbara Cushman and Wendy Kitchen) throughout the venue set the tone for the theme "Color My World" as members of Maskers and their guests celebrated their 69th annual ball on April 17 at the Anniston Country Club.

Prior to the Ball, guests met at Classic on Noble for the Queen's dinner, which featured a Cajun (and therefore colorful, as well) theme: shrimp and grits, jambalaya, grilled chicken with mushroom, spinach salad, grilled vegetables, and for dessert, a special chocolate bread pudding.

Dinner behind them, and back at the Anniston Country Club, guests crowded in as the Club's own Amado Ortiz served as the Master of Ceremonies and introduced the skits, all bearing songs with colors in their titles, and created by Maskers membership (with a little help from Amy Bellin and Karen Guyton, who not only hand-picked the songs and organized the groups, but were also tasked with costuming for the event.)

In "Black or White," the king of pop Michael Jackson was memorialized by dancers Kim Billings, Barbara Cushman, Mitzi Collins (who was also the Maskers Ball chairman), Donna Woodfin and Sondra Pumroy — all wearing black and white tunics and matching wigs, paying homage to (and showing some love for) the gloved one. Neverland never had it so good …

Next, it was yee-haw and hidee-ho in "Redneck Woman," a lively skit performed to a country hit, which featured Maskers members Kelly Roberts, Karen Guyton, Amy Bellin, Ginger Munroe and Lucy Weidmer emerging from their RV home in redneck wear, cowboy hats and boots, and tattoos-aplenty as they line-danced their way into country-fried bliss.

Harlem Globetrotters Cynthia Brown, Michelle Swinford, Laura McWilliams and Kim Bolton dribbled, traveled and got nothin' but net in "Sweet Georgia Brown." She shoots! She scores! She rocks some cute dance moves, too!

The "Black Betty" we remember from 1977 got a creative twist as Maskers Lesley Hudson, Lucy Smith, Shelley Ray and Wendy Kitchen donned their Betty Crocker-style aprons and danced around their oven, preparing a cake with numerous special ingredients. When rock music and self-rising flour mix, the results can be quite interesting.

"Play that Funky Music, White Boy" featured rappers and hip-hop dancers Wendy Draper, Karen Connell, Cathy Pope, Jennifer Farrell and Layne Allen battling it out on the dance floor (movin' to the groovin', no doubt) and the mic.

Mellowing things out a bit, Tony Orlando's "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" put the spotlight on Deborah Ann Wakefield, Lisa Brasco Smith, Joy Steed and Renee Stewart in their military-inspired uniforms (complete with yellow garters) as they shared the dance floor with a mysterious dancing oak tree.

Cynthia Cater, Donna Callan, Michelle Love, Robin Arnold and Alyson Orth gave "Blue Suede Shoes" an extra kick when they performed the Elvis favorite in '50s-era jeans, scarves and blue tap shoes.

In the next skit, gambling, dancing, zoot suit-wearing Chicago gangsters Allison Stone, Cherie Smith, Dale Walker and Shawn Green flashed their cash, rolled the dice and wowed the crowd in "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown."

Wearing Sherlock Holmes-style trench coats and hats, sleuths Shelley House, Jennifer Tucker, Rhonda Johnson and Deana Douglas danced about as they searched for their thief in "Theme from the Pink Panther."

In the following skit, evil wolves Nikki Christian, Nancy Cromwell and Christina Garner stalked dear "Little Red Riding Hood" Julie Hansek as she tried to outrun them.

Finally, in "White Wedding," punked-out bridesmaids and a dancing, limber bride (all played by Jamie Robertson, Cathy McGuirk, Meg Weidner and Laurie Rigsby) closed the show, along with Billy "Laura Nell Rigsby" Idol himself.

Lisa Cotton — the queen of this year's Maskers Ball — was radiant in a champagne multi-tiered gown, and was escorted by her husband, Mark Cotton. Special guests of the queen, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Wiles and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Cotton accompanied Lisa and Mark to the ball, as did Lisa and Mark's children, Anna Laurie (age 11) and Banks (age 8).

Maskers officers this year include Lisa Cotton, president; Mitzi Collins, vice president; Ginger Munroe, corresponding secretary; Michelle Swinford, recording secretary; and Cherie Smith, treasurer.

Board members not previously mentioned include Sheri Ballard and Deana Douglas, invitations; Jennifer Farrell and Lesley Hudson, membership; Kim Billings and Sondra Pumroy, hospitality; Lucy Weidmer, rules; Cynthia Brown and Lisa Smith, properties; Laurie Rigsby and Deborah Ann Wakefield, publicity; Michelle Love and Alyson Orth, music; Lucy Smith, nominating; Donna Woodfin, historian; Renee Stewart, data manager; Donna Callan, lighting and sound; and Kristie Alderman and Pam Dawson, sustaining representatives.