06/20/2007

Playhouse presents annual Gala

Annual fundraiser is Saturday

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — A high-energy Broadway-style revue is among the highlights planned for this year's annual Black & White Gala fundraiser for Old Town Playhouse.

The June 23 event starts at 6 p.m. at the City Opera House. In addition to entertainment, the Southern-themed evening includes a gourmet dinner with wine, live and silent auctions, a theater trip raffle and more.

The cast is drawn from Old Town Playhouse talent, including Sherry McCarty, Jennifer Allen, Sara Quigley, Jessica Elliot, Kristina Godfrey, Mary Winowiecki, Lars Kelto, Brett Nichols, Don Cox, Braden Giacobazzi, David Curtis and Rob Stow. They'll perform musical numbers that range from "Steppin' to the Bad Side” from "Dreamgirls” to "The Flesh Failures — Let the Sunshine In” from "Hair.”

Singing a few songs during the pre-show will be soprano Gillian Bell, who performed in Old Town Playhouse productions as a child and teen, studied at Interlochen and went on to study classical voice in college.

Brenda Biederman, chairwoman of the inaugural Black & White Gala, will offer commentary during the auction. For one of the live auction items, Delbert Michel will create a painting while a pianist, Tony Bero, sets the pace. Michel has taught at Hope College, the University of Querétaro in Mexico, the Croydon College of Art and Portsmouth College of Art, both in England. Another auction items includes dinner for eight catered by Eric Fritch, owner of Patisserie Amie.

Tickets are $125 per person with a cash bar; $105 of the ticket price is tax-deductible. To make reservations, call 947-2210 or visit www.oldtownplayhouse.com.