Photo Flash: The Midtown Men and More 'Galavant in the Garden' for Bucks County Playhouse

The extraordinary beauty of Jericho Farms, one of Bucks County's most storied estates, and the rocking sounds of a 1960s-pop sensation set the stage for the Third Annual Galavant in the Garden Gala that benefited Bucks County Playhouse. Presented by Playhouse Artists, the non-profit organization that supports the growth and sustainability of the Playhouse, Galavant in the Garden was held on Saturday, September 23 and featured a concert by The Midtown Men, four of the original stars of "Jersey Boys." BroadwayWorld has photos from the event below!

Hosted by Lynn and Edward Breen, the event was held at their beautifully restored 18th century estate near Newtown, PA. The Galavant began with cocktails and a moveable feast, followed by a very successful live auction, concert and a post-show dessert buffet. Sally and Harlan Weisman of New Hope were the gala's Event Chairs.

Under large festive tents - as well under as beautiful late summer skies - attendees feasted on catering created by Iron Chef Jose Garces. Broadway star Justin Guarini and students from the Bucks County Playhouse Youth Company also performed.

Proceeds from the Galavant will support the nonprofit mission of Bucks County Playhouse, which includes the Oscar Hammerstein Festival, a new musical development program, and innovative education programs like the Student Theatre Festival, BCP Youth Company and year-round engagement programs for young people and adults.

The Midtown Men took Broadway by storm in one of the biggest hits of all-time, the Tony-winning juke box musical, "Jersey Boys." Now on their 8th national tour, Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer celebrate the music that defined the '60s. They've performed on concert stages across the US, Canada and in Beijing in over 600 shows and singing with 33 major symphony orchestras. The men have been seen on such television shows as "The Today Show", "Good Morning America," "Access Hollywood," "Katie," and "The Chew." They have released two successful public television concert specials: The Midtown Men Live in Concert, taped at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's majestic Prudential Hall, and Meet the Midtown Men, which goes behind the songs to get an inside, personal look at the Men and their music. Both are currently being aired nationally. (Note: The Midtown Men is not a Performance Of, Nor Affiliated With the Show "The Jersey Boys.")

Bucks County Playhouse, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is the oldest and largest professional Equity performing arts center in Bucks County. Under the direction of Tony Award-winning producers, Alexander Fraser and Robyn Goodman, the Playhouse provides first class professional theatrical entertainment as well as community events, partnerships and arts education programming for visitors and residents of New Hope, Doylestown, Lambertville and the Delaware Valley.

Located between Philadelphia and New York, Bucks County Playhouse opened in 1939 in a converted 1790 gristmill after a group of community activists, led by Broadway orchestrator Don Walker and playwright Moss Hart, rallied to save the building. The Playhouse quickly became one of the country's most famous regional theaters, featuring a roster of American theatrical royalty including Helen Hayes, Kitty Carlisle, George S. Kaufman, Grace Kelly, Robert Redford, Bert Lahr, Walter Matthau, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Alan Alda, Tyne Daly, Liza Minnelli and Audra McDonald and remained in continuous operation until December 2010. In 2012, the Playhouse re-opened thanks to the efforts of the Bridge Street Foundation, the nonprofit family foundation of Kevin and Sherri Daugherty, and Broadway producer Jed Bernstein.

Since its renovation, significant productions include Terrence McNally's "Mothers and Sons" starring Tyne Daly, which moved to Broadway and was nominated for two Tony Awards, and "Misery" by William Goldman based on the Stephen King novel which also went on to a Broadway run in the 2015-16 season. Two of the Playhouse's recent productions -- "Company" starring Justin Guarini, and William Finn's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" -- were named by Wall Street Journal to its "Best of Theatre" list for 2015. The Playhouse's production of "Guys and Dolls" in Summer 2017 broke box office records set by "Steel Magnolias" and "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" in 2016. "Buddy" returned in 2017 and transferred to the Kimmel Center, where it became the first regional theatre invited to perform at the prestigious venue. Thanks to the Bridge Street Foundation and their vision for the New Hope waterfront, the Playhouse is currently in construction mode - as it adds 4,000 square foot riverfront cafe and bar that is expected to open in 2018.

Photo Credit: Margaryta Kenis

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