White Plains PAC Announces 2009 Annual Gala 'One Enchanted Evening' 6/1

Jack W. Batman, Executive Producer of the White Plains Performing Arts Center, has announced the theatre's 2009 Annual Gala, One Enchanted Evening, to be held Monday, June 1, 2009, beginning at 6:00 PM at the theatre in White Plains.

The event honors Dr. Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester for her leadership and enormous support of the Westchester business community; Isabel Villar, Founding Executive Director of El Centro Hispano, Inc. for her endless commitment to the Hispanic community of Westchester; and Barbara and Richard B. Dannenberg, for their patronage and continuous support of the arts in Westchester.

The evening includes wine and hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction and a performance featuring some of the stars of the Broadway classic musicals produced by the theatre over the last two years, plus other celebrity appearances. The show will be directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne (who directed Ragtime, Camelot and A Little Night Music and starred in Man of La Mancha and Oliver!) with musical direction by James Bassi (Ragtime, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Camelot, A Little Night Music). Presently scheduled to appear are Farah Alvin (Ragtime), Sidney J. Burgoyne, Rachel de Benedet (A Little Night Music), Jerry Dixon (Ragtime and director of Ain't Misbehavin'), David Gabriel Lerner (Oliver!) and all the boys of Fagin's Gang: John P. Geraghty, Christopher Gray, Benjamin Milan-Polisar, Alex Pasieka, Gabriel Rush and Noah Silverman. The evening's special guest star will be Kerry O'Malley (Broadway's White Christmas, Into the Woods, Annie Get Your Gun).

Over the past two seasons the White Plains Performing Arts Center has enjoyed extraordinary critical acclaim and audience support. Although ticket sales have grown with every show, and subscriptions are up, the wobbly economy has recently stepped into a leading role at the theatre. One Enchanted Evening will be the major fundraising event for the theatre and will help bridge the gap into the new season which begins in September. The company, an Actors' Equity Association LORT theatre, has produced seven major musicals since November 2007, most recently a highly praised production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music starring Penny Fuller and Mark Jacoby.

One Enchanted Evening is co-chaired by White Plains Performing Arts Center Trustees, Ann Bernstein and Susan Egginton, who said "Our commitment to the White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) is based on a shared belief that the arts enrich the quality of life in our community. The theatre, in particular, has delighted and entertained our patrons with outstanding Broadway quality productions over the past several years. As active members of the WPPAC Board of Trustees, we encourage all members of the community to join us in our commitment to ensuring the continued success of the theatre by attending our Annual Gala. We applaud our dedicated staff and Gala honorees for their commitment to the arts and to the diversity, vitality and creativity of our community."

In addition to the performance, highlights of the event will be a silent auction that includes sports memorabilia, designer jewelry, entertainment packages, spa, hotel, restaurant and shop gift certificates and Major League Baseball tickets, plus a highly-anticipated raffle drawing announcing the winner of a brand-new 2009 Mercedes-Benz.

Along with preferred seating, Premium ticket holders will enjoy a post-Gala supper at 42 the Restaurant, Anthony Goncalves' breathtaking new restaurant atop the Ritz-Carlton Westchester, just across the street from the theatre.

White Plains Performing Arts Center is located on the third level of City Center at the corner of Main and Mamaroneck in downtown White Plains, NY, just 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, with plenty of convenient parking. Gala tickets are available at two levels: a limited number of Premium tickets for $250 (Includes preferred seating and post performance reception at 42) and Regular tickets at $125 each. Mercedes-Benz raffle tickets are $50 each or three for $125. All tickets are available at the box office or by calling 914.328.1600. For more information visit the web site at www.wppac.com.

White Plains Performing Arts Center brings innovative and eclectic entertainment and classic Broadway musicals to appreciative audiences who live throughout the county and beyond. It is Westchester's only professional regional theatre. Under the direction of Executive Producer Jack W. Batman, the 410-seat, $6 million theatre also hosts local, national and international performing artists whose work reflects Westchester's diverse population, and operates the Westchester Conservatory for the Performing Arts, a year-round professional theatre training program for youth and adults. The 2008-2009 Season is sponsored by the Louis R. Cappelli Foundation, and made possible, in part, by grants from the City of White Plains, Bank of America, Entergy and other corporations, foundations and individual donors.

 

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