Cal Shakes to Celebrate 40th Anniversary with RAISE THE ROOF Fundraiser at Four Seasons San Francisco, 3/15

California Shakespeare Theater today announced details for the company's 19th annual fundraising bash, Raise the Roof, to be held Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 6pm at the Four Seasons San Francisco. The evening, celebrating the company's 40th anniversary and featuring honorary chairperson Annette Bening, who appeared in several Cal Shakes productions in the early years of the company, will support Cal Shakes' work on stage, in classrooms, and with Bay Area communities.

"I am so honored to have Annette Bening as our honorary chairperson, who was one of the artistic voices that made our theater so special," says Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone. "She, along with so many uniquely talented women and men, provided Cal Shakes with the foundation we have, one which built a theater that matters to audiences, young people, and diverse communities. We are 40 years strong, 40 years young, and 40 years ready to deepen our impact in the Bay Area."

Raise the Roof will begin with a silent auction and cocktail reception followed by an elegant dinner, live auction with auctioneer extraordinaire Greg Quiroga, and dancing with music provided by DJ Stan Loh. Live and silent auction previews are available online at calshakes.org/gala beginning March 10. Some of the spectacular auction items include great escape vacation packages to a private, historic estate in Umbria; a spacious, scenic casa in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; all-access passes to the Westminster Kennel Club's dog show in New York's Madison Square Garden; and a Napa Valley getaway including a trip to French Laundry with private reservation service. Other once-in-a-lifetime experiences include a behind-the-scenes tour of Facebook including lunch at its five-star, New York Times-lauded private cafeteria; a tour of Oliver Ranch; San Francisco Giants box seats; a walk-on role in Pygmalion, directed by Cal Shakes Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone; a cocktail party and private concert at the Getty Mansion; and a dazzling array of fine restaurants, unique culinary adventures, extraordinary curated wines, and the extravagant wine and whiskey bin raffles-a king's ransom of carefully-chosen vintages and boutique bourbons and scotches.

Honorary committee members for Raise the Roof include Cal Shakes co-founder Peter Fisher and former Artistic Directors Dakin Matthews, Michael Addison, and Joe Vincent; John Adams & Deborah O'Grady, Wilkes Bashford, The Hon. Willie L. Brown Jr., Deborah Cullinan, Jeannette Etheredge, The Hon. Dianne Feinstein & Richard Blum, Stanlee Gatti, Ann & Gordon Getty, Matthew Goudeau, Carole Shorenstein Hays & Dr. Jeffrey P. Hays, Dan Henkle & Steve Kawa, Karin & PJ Johnston, Dorka Keehn, Ashley & Antonio Lucio, Helen & John Meyer, Nicola Miner & Robert Mailer Anderson, Mrs. George R. Moscone, The Hon. Gavin Newsom & Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Delanie & Peter Read, The Hon. Nancy Pelosi & Paul Pelosi, Daniel Lurie & Becca Prowda, Yvonne & Angelo Sangiacomo, Jo Schuman Silver, Sharon & Barclay Simpson, Leslie Thieriot, and Francesca Vietor.

The Lead Corporate Partners for Raise the Roof are City National Bank and John Muir Health; other distinguished Corporate Partners include Archer Norris, Baker Ave, Meyer Sound, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and San Francisco magazine.

Cal Shakes' gala is at the core of the company's annual fundraising campaigns and over the years has garnered more than $4.6 million in support. The 2014 season begins May 21 with the American classic A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, directed by Patricia McGregor.

Raise the Roof tickets are on sale through March 5 and begin at $450; call 510.809.3297 or visit calshakes.org/gala to order.

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