New Rep Gala 2016 - New Repertory Theatre

[tabs][tab title=”Gala”] The New Rep Gala held on Tuesday, May 10 was a picturesque spring evening and a joyous celebration in a tent under the stars in front of the Arsenal Center for the Arts. Upon arrival, guests were greeted by the melodious sounds of a student string trio from the Suzuki School of Newton in the tent decorated in blues and whites with gorgeous bright pink flowers from Blossoms. Tables were supplied with dishes of cranberry nut mix provided by Fastachi.

Taste buds were tickled with delicious food provided by our restaurant partners, Farmer’s Market Kitchen, Fiorella’s, Not Your Average Joe’s, Sensational Foods, Stellina Restaurant, Terry O’Reilly’s, and Wild Rice.

A yearly tradition, Premier Bartending & Beverage Service supplied a signature drink for the evening called “Twilight Blue” which featured blue curaçao, vodka, and white cranberry juice.

Guests tried their luck for exciting prizes at the Mystery Box table, found bargains at the Win It Now table, bid on silent and special Galaxy Auction items, and took home surprise bottles of wine at the Wine Spin table.

Legit Band, a jazz trio led by Ron Vanaria, and dancers from Ballroom in Boston added a flair of ambiance and drew delighted guests to the dance floor.

Comcast/xfinity, our Headliner Sponsor, was on hand broadcasting the program on four 80-inch screens around the tent so all had a fantastic view of the proceedings.

Leigh Barrett kicked things off with a sultry rendition of “Mack the Knife” accompanied by Matthew Stern on piano. Board Chair, Chip Phinney and Artistic Director, Jim Petosa welcomed guests and remarked on the outstanding turnout for the event and guests commitment to New Rep.

Our distinguished honorees were highlighted in videos produced by Comcast/xfinity before they took to the stage to accept their awards. Former honoree, Marcy Crary appeared in a video highlighting the contributions of this year’s Karoff Leadership Award recipient, New Rep Board Member, Miriam Gillitt Winer. Jim Petosa gave praise to Baltimore playwright Kirsten Greenidge in a pre-taped piece and before presenting her with the Rising Star Award live on stage. And finally, last year’s Community Advocate award winner WGBH’s CEO and President, Jon Abbott appeared on-screen to shine a light on the work of this year’s Community Advocate award winner, State Representative Jonathan Hecht who followed with a passionate speech about the importance of arts organizations like New Rep in our community.

A rousing performance piece by the Classic Repertory Company led by Education Associate, Hayley Sherwood shared their experiences on the road. Moving quotes and true stories highlighted the impact of live theatre on students, teachers, and the company themselves as artists. They collected gifts benefitting our Fund a Future initiative.

The presentation concluded with a charming rendition of “Miracle of Miracles” from Fiddler on the Roof by New Rep favorite, Nick Sulfaro.

Guests then enjoyed goodies and treats from Whole Foods to end their night on a sweet note.

We are proud to announce that we raised $105,000 at New Rep Gala 2016! We could not have done it without the passion and dedication of our Board, Gala Co-Chairs, Gala Committee, Honorary Committee, Sponsors, Local Business Partners, volunteers, and staff.

We look forward to sharing our work on stage and in the community with you throughout the year!

Photos by Andrew Brilliant and Christopher McKenzie.

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