Mia Love and April Meservy Headline Saratoga Springs Arts Council Benefit Gala Tonight

Mayor Mia Love, five-time Pearl Award winner April Meservy, Nikki Forova and David James Fritch will headline the entertainment at the first annual Saratoga Springs Arts Council Benefit Gala tonight, March 6.

The event will also feature live and silent auctions of items including two "The Phantom of the Opera" masks and Playbills signed by the 25^th anniversary Broadway cast, a BYU football signed by LaVell Edwards and a mini BYU blackout helmet signed by Chad Lewis and Robbie Bosco. All proceeds will provide funding for the arts in Saratoga Springs, Utah.

The "Starry Starry Night"-themed benefit gala, catered by Magelby's, will be held at Talons Cove on Wednesday, March 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $50 for individuals and $350 for tables of eight and can be purchased at www.saratogaspringscity.com under "Announcements."

The auction items also include other sports memorabilia, signed Gary Earnest Smith prints, original artwork, golf packages, gift certificates, theatre tickets and much more.

"We are so excited about our first annual fundraising gala," organizer Kim Holley said. "Our council is run by volunteers who are dedicated and passionate about growing the arts in our community."

The Saratoga Springs Arts Council was formed last year by the city council to foster the development of performing and visual arts in the community. The Arts Council's projects in 2012 included Arts in the Park outdoor concerts and a pilot production of "The Sound of Music."

Due to the success of the production, a new community theatre called Saratoga Springs Theatre Company has been created and plans to produce a season of three shows in 2013. The titles of the shows will be unveiled at the gala, where season tickets will also be on sale. Other potential initiatives of the Arts Council, pending funding, include choral and instrumental performing groups, visual arts classes and continuing Arts in the Park.

Mia Love, mayor of Saratoga Springs, has a degree in fine arts from the University of Hartford. She performed in the national touring company of Smokey Joe's Café and is an accomplished singer and dancer.

April Meservy has been featured on over 100 albums and compilations released all over the world. She has been honored with three Pearl Awards for "Studio Vocalist of the Year," as well as Pearl Awards for "Contemporary Recording of the Year (Especially for Youth song "The Light") and "Devotional Recorded Song."

European singer/songwriter Nikki Forova won the MTV Duets competition in 2010 by performing the hit song "A Thousand Miles" with Grammy nominee Vanessa Carlton. Her performance with April Meservy at the gala immediately precedes the launch of their co-headlining White Dandelions tour.

David James Fritch is a member of the male trio After Daybreak. Their debut album, "What a Wonderful World," debuted at #18 on the Billboard Classical Albums chart and at #3 on the Billboard Classical Midline Albums chart. Their eponymous second album debuted at #11 on the Billboard Classical Crossover chart.

For more information about the benefit gala, including donation and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Saratoga Springs Arts Council at ssartsgala@gmail.com.

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