Landmark on Main Street's annual Spotlight Gala was held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 honoring Leslie and Andy Abramowitz, Fern and Hersh Cohen, and The Johnson Family: Stuart, Elizabeth Kase and Craig. Landmark is indebted to the Gala leadership Chairs Angela & Scott Jaggar and Maggie and Stephen Black and Honorary Chairs Angela Susan Anton, Jane and Robert Harding, Eric Krasnoff, Pall Corporation, Lillian McCormick and Dot and Ed Slade.
The evening began by recognizing the honorees with a presentation of the beautiful Tiffany & Co. awards by Landmark's Executive Director, Sharon Maier-Kennelly and Board Co-Presidents Jessica Gutteridge and Andy Lipset.
The presentation was followed by a concert featuring an original pairing of Broadway Stars Kerry Butler and Jarrod Spector. Kerry Butler opened the show with songs that included Magic from her hit show Xanadu, the emotional Fly,Fly Away from her most recent starring role in Catch Me if You Can and culminating in a stunning version of Delta Dawn. Jersey Boys' leading man, Jarrod Spector, and his band performed songs from decades past and present that appealed to the multi-generational audience. Selections included Calendar Girl, Barry Manilow's Even Now and Led Zeppelin's Rock N' Roll. Jarrod talked about his early career as a contestant in Ed McMahon's Star Search and the show ended his show with Billy Joel's "River of Dreams." Both Gala stars reappeared for an encore duet of Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer.
After the performance, 300 guests left the theater to enter the "Spotlight Club" - a beautifully lighted tent erected next to the theater for the Gala reception. Attendees feasted on gourmet New York-style cuisines that captured the heart of the post-Broadway Times Square eating experience. Expertly prepared by H on the Harbor, traditional food carts were set up around the tent and included: the Flushing cart: serving dim sum, cold noodles and dumplings; the Middle Eastern cart: serving falafel with all the fixings; the Shish Kabob cart; the Mexican Taco cart. Of course, the night would not have been complete without the customary New York hotdog and sausage cart as well. Music in the tent was also a reflection of the Broadway music street scene: The seven piece NYU Steel Band performed throughout the evening. Guests were treated to the "Landmark Limelight" specialty drink, locAl Greenport Harbor Beer and wonderful wines from Palm Bay International. As attendees left the party, they stopped at the Mr. Softie ice-cream truck as an added treat for their ride home.
Landmark's Co-President, Andy Lipset commented, "This year's Spotlight Gala was a true celebration of giving back to the community. We honored three incredible families who have given so much to Landmark and to Port Washington as residents here. The Landmark staff once again raised the bar and put together a spectacular evening filled with great entertainment and a party afterwards as a great tribute to the Abramowitz, Cohen and Johnson families."
The Spotlight Gala is Landmark's most important fundraising program according to Jessica Gutteridge Landmark's Co-President. She adds, "Given the challenging economic times in the arts, the outpouring of support from the community is what helps us to continue to present the world-class performances, offer affordable rental space in the Jeanne Rimsky Theater and gym and continue to provide a variety of free events."
Spotlight Gala '12 will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012. Save the date - it's an event not-to-be-missed!
Photo Credit: Rampage Studios
