Photo Coverage: Ervin Drake Honored by Gold Coast Arts Center and Landmark on Main Street
By: Stephen Sorokoff Apr. 28, 2014
Last night more than a dozen musical theater and cabaret stars celebrated the remarkable musical career of Ervin Drake in a special concert to benefit The Gold Coast Arts Center and Landmark on Main Street, two non-profit cultural gems located on the North Shore of Long Island.
Founded in 1993, the Gold Coast Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts through education, exhibition, performance and outreach. They do this every day of the year through a School for the Arts (for children and adults of all ages), free public art gallery,year-round concerts, film screenings and filmmaker Q&As and Outreach Programs that bring arts and education experiences to 1000s of school children and senior citizens each year. The Arts Center is an affiliate of the John. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: Partners in Education Program and the National Gallery of Art. Additionally, the Arts Center produces The Gold Coast International Film Festival, entering its 4th year in November 2014, which hosts stars of the film and entertainment world in a week filled with film premieres and special events.
The April 25th concert honored Ervin Drake, the legendary composer and lyricist - and an inductee of the Songwriter Hall of Fame and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductee. He has written some of the American Songbook's most beloved and enduring classics, including "It Was a Very Good Year," "Good Morning, Heartache" and "I Believe." Drake also penned the Broadway musicals What Makes Sammy Run? starring Steve Lawrence and Her First Roman starring Leslie Uggams and Richard Kiley. Mr. Drake has lived in Great Neck, the home of the Gold Coast Arts Center, for many years.
The evening was hosted by Charles Grodin and artists who toasted Mr. Drake at the event included Dee Dee Bridgewater, Carole J. Bufford, John Gabriel, Eric Yves Garcia, Anita Gillette, Jeff Harnar, Christine Lavin, Sidney Myer, T. Oliver Reid, Steve Ross, KT Sullivan, Stacy Sullivan, Leslie Uggams and Sal Viviano. Jon Weber was musical director.
Landmark on Main Street is a not-for-profit community center that enhances the spirit and enriches the lives of the communities of Port Washington and surrounding regions. The 425-seat theater's season includes over 40 events with diverse programming including Folk, Cabaret, Roots Rock, Acoustic and World Music as well as Family programming, Comedy and Dance Performances. "Conversations From Main Street" is a speaker/lecture series featuring business leaders, authors, educators, celebrities, sports figures and others to discuss current issues.
For more information on The Gold Coast Arts Center visit www.goldcoastarts.org. For information on Landmark on Main Street visit www.landmarkonmainstreet.org
Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff
Sharon Mair Kennelly, Executive Director Landmark on Main Street
Caroline Sorokoff, Associate Director Gold Coast Great Neck Arts & Director Gold Coast International Film Festival
Charles Grodin, Host
Caroline Sorokoff, Stephen Downey, Ervin Drake, Edith Drake
Charles Grodin & Caroline Sorokoff
Ervin Drake & Caroline Sorokoff
Stephen Sorokoff & Caroline Sorokoff
Jon Kaiman, Special Advisor to Gov.Andrew Cuomo and Chairman Nassau Interim Finance Authority, Kim Kaiman, Caroline Sorokoff
Debbi Bush Whiting & Edith Drake
Eric Y. Garcia
Jon Weber, Music Director & Anita Gillette
The Drake Family
Carole C. Bufford
Eric Y. Garcia & Jon Weber
Jon Weber & Dee Dee Bridgewater
" I Believe"
The Cast
Landmark on Main Street
Caroline Sorokoff & Eda Sorokoff
T. Oliver Reid, Carole C. Bufford, Eric Y. Garcia
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