Hershey Felder Joins APAC Foundation's Great Gatsby Gala Fundraiser Lineup

The Anaheim Performing Arts Center Foundation (APACF) has announced that renowned pianist HERSHEY FELDER will be performing at the organization's Great Gatsby Gala Benefit Concert on November 1, 2014. Mr. Felder is a Canadian pianist, actor, playwright, composer, producer, and director, and will perform excerpts from his production of "Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin" at the gala, which will open in November at the Geffen Playhouse. In addition to Mr. Felder, the gala will feature performers JULIE GARNYE, JENNIFER SHELTON, ERIC LEVAN and SEAN LE VAN. Headlining the Great Gatsby Gala Benefit Concert will be beloved Hollywood legend, DEBBIE REYNOLDS.

As a performer in Los Angeles, JULIE GARNYEmost recently appeared on the 85th Annual Academy Awards (THE OSCARS), singing in the LES MISERABLES Ensemble, along with the principals of the Academy Award winning film version on the Boublil-Shönberg musical. She also can be heard in the Disney animated film "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" as the singing voice of the fairy Lyria and in the "Star Turn" episode in the final season of TNT's "The Closer." Live performances include "LES MISERABLES" at The Hollywood Bowl (directed by Richard Jay-Alexander), "CHESS" in Concert at the Ford Amphitheatre and with celebrated Tony Award winners Alan Cumming and Alice Ripley in "Open All Night: The Music of Lance Horne."

JENNIFER SHELTON recently appeared in International City Theatre's production of "LET'S MISBEHAVE: The Music and Lyrics of Cole Porter."

ERIC LEVAN is an American classical pianist particularly known for his interpretations of the music of Brahms and Scriabin[1]. An archivist of unusual repertoire, Mr. Levan has been guest soloist and recitalist in major festivals and venues in the United States and in Europe, notably the Weimar Franz Liszt Festival and the Beethovenfest in Bonn, the Fetes Romantiques de Nohant Festival in France, and at the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

SEAN LE VAN is 13 years old and has given many professional concerts since the age of five, along with members of his family, the Le Van Family Musicians. He started as a singer in various styles and soon developed a passion for jazz improvisation and composition on the piano. He now embraces several musical genres, including jazz and classical. He was a laureate winner of the 2010 American Association for the Development of the Gifted and Talented competition, which led him to perform in the "Passion of Music Festival" at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall and Bechstein Hall as a classical pianist.

The fourth annual Great Gatsby Gala Benefit Concert will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at Fox Pointe Manor, the magnificent estate residence of Dr. Howard and Linda Knohl in the Peralta Hills area of Anaheim.

Headliner DEBBIE REYNOLDS is known for her dramatic versatility, which has won her the respect of her colleagues and the affection of audiences all around the world who know her from her countless appearances in movies, on stage and TV. She is best known for her roles in "Singin' in the Rain" and her Academy Award nominated portrayal as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Ms. Reynolds has also appeared in numerous television shows such as "Will & Grace," "Perry Mason," "The Love Boat" and many appearances on The Tonight Show.

Linda Knohl, president of the APAC Foundation board of directors, stated, "We recognize and appreciate Ms. Reynolds dedication to the performing arts. Her star power brings the Great Gatsby Gala to new heights and represents a crowning achievement for the Anaheim Performing Arts Center Foundation."

As previously announced, Master of Ceremonies for the Great Gatsby Gala Benefit Concert, will be southern California broadcasting icon NBC4 Weathercaster FRITZ COLEMAN.

After only a few years, the gala is one of the most fashionable and eagerly anticipated fundraising events in Orange County.

VIP ticket holders will enjoy a cocktail reception followed by a sumptuous dinner and live auction. Following dinner, VIP guests will have front row seats to the concert on the Great Lawn with a line-up of stellar entertainment and celebrity guests under the stars at Dr. Howard and Linda Knohl's Fox Pointe Manor. Guests are encouraged to dress in their best "Gatsby" attire.

All proceeds from the event will be used to support the building of a world class performing arts center in the city of Anaheim and its many programs, including the APACF senior outreach program. The mission of the outreach program is to create or reignite an appreciation of the performing arts by providing the community a series of lectures and quality educational entertainment.

Ticket prices to the Great Gatsby Gala Benefit Concert are $250 for VIP and $75 for concert only. Tickets and underwriting sponsorships are available online at www.apacf.org.

For more information, please visit www.apacf.org or call 714-554-2711.

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