California Shakespeare Theater's Annual Gala Raises Over $530,000

Surrounded by friends, family, and colleagues from the East Bay, San Francisco and Marin, California Shakespeare Theater's Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone was truly the man of the hour at La Dolce Vita, Cal Shakes' 15th annual gala on Saturday, March 20, 2010. The event, honorarily co-chaired by Ann and Gordon Getty and Barclay and Sharon Simpson, celebrated 10 years of Moscone's artistic leadership of the company, with the proceeds raised going to Cal Shakes' work on stage, in classrooms and throughout communities.

San Francisco's elegant Four Seasons hotel, its hallways lined with exquisite costumes from Cal Shakes productions, provided a breathtakingly dramatic setting for the sold-out crowd of 435 guests, who mingled amidst the beautifully designed décor, supervised by gala committee member Julie Landres, and lit by York Kennedy and Got Light. Feasting on scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, with spirits courtesy of Stockholm Krystal Vodka, guests bid on silent auction items from vacations to wines, assembled by auction chair Jean Simpson.

After the guests made their way into the candle-lit ballroom to the swing music of the CoolTones, Master of Ceremonies Danny Scheie kicked off the evening by hilariously, and touchingly, honoring Moscone's 10-year tenure. Managing Director Susie Falk then invited Jonathan to the stage to receive his unexpected gift from the Cal Shakes Board of Directors; to the surprise and delight of the crowd, Board President David Goldsmith announced that the green room at the Theater's new Patron and Artists Center at the Bruns Amphitheater would be named for Moscone.

"I am so unbelievably grateful to be a part of this organization, and to have been honored for the work we've done over the last 10 years." says Moscone. "This is all due to an extraordinarily dedicated staff and board; a community of artists and teachers who enact our mission with passion and talent; and our community of supporters in the East Bay, San Francisco, Marin, and beyond, who make our work possible. It was in every respect, a perfect evening."

Following the sumptuous meal provided by the Four Seasons, with wine provided by Pine Ridge Vineyards, came time for the tributes. "When I met Jonathan, it was love at first sight!", exclaimed board member and gala honorary co-chair Sharon Simpson - one of many well-wishers whose fond recollections of Jon and his impact on Cal Shakes were captured on video, including Associate Artists James Carpenter and L. Peter Callender, Berkeley Rep Artistic Director Tony Taccone, and playwright Octavio Solis, author of Cal Shakes' upcoming world premiere production, John Steinbeck's The Pastures of Heaven, which will be directed by Moscone.

Among the guests were Willie Brown and Sonya Molodetskaya, Carole Shorenstein Hays and Dr. Jeffrey P. Hays, Tony Taccone, Wilkes Bashford, Gina Moscone, Sharon and Barclay Simpson, Ellen and Joffa Dale, Jeannette Etheredge, Peter Read, Frank and Carey Starn, Christopher and Linda Moscone, Simon and Allese Baker, Harvey and Gail Glasser, Dale Djerassi, Dorka Keehn, and Francesca Vietor. Also there to celebrate Cal Shakes: William Taggert, Phil and Chris Chernin, Ed and Denise Del Beccaro, Kate Stechschulte and David Cost, Nina and David Bond, Joe Di Prisco and Patti James, Jeff and Janie Green, Anne and Marshall Grodin, Sunne and John McPeak, Melinda Yee Franklin and Dennis Franklin, Jo Alice and Wayne Canterbury, Tom Kelley, Leslie Thieriot, Arline Klatte and Jon Ennis, Jerry and Kim Overaa, Debbie Chinn, Phillipa Kelly and Paul Dresher, and David and Diane Goldsmith.

The evening's auctions, wine raffle drawing, ticket sales, and donations shattered the Theater's previous fundraising record, by bringing in more than $530,000 to support Cal Shakes' artistic and educational programming. The "Fund-a-Need" appeal single-handedly garnered $130,000 to bring Shakespeare and the classics to underserved youth throughout the Bay Area.

For more information on California Shakespeare Theatre, visit http://www.calshakes.org/v4/home.html

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