Press Release: 2016 Gala - A Night of Revels

THE OLD GLOBE’S 2016 GALA, A NIGHT OF REVELS,
RAISES FUNDS FOR THE GLOBE’S
ARTISTIC AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Tony Award Winner Leslie Odom, Jr. (Broadway’s Hamilton) Performed for the Over 340 Guests at the Black-Tie Affair

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SAN DIEGO (October 13, 2016)—Over 340 guests attended The Old Globe’s 2016 Gala, A Night of Revels, on September 24 on the Globe’s historic campus in Balboa Park. When final proceeds and expenses are tallied, the net proceeds from this black-tie event will benefit the theatre’s artistic and arts engagement activities. Karen Cohn, Nina Doede, Laurie Mitchell, and Sheryl White served as Co-Chairs for the Globe Gala, and Darlene Marcos Shiley served as Honorary Chair. Lead underwriters for the evening were Audrey Geisel and Darlene Marcos Shiley, with Terry Atkinson, Karen and Donald Cohn, Nina and Robert Doede, Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Maryanne Pfister, Conrad Prebys and Debra Turner, Qualcomm, Duff and Sue Sanderson, Rhona and Rick Thompson, Tony and Gillian Thornley, Sheryl and Harvey White, Brent Woods and Laurie Mitchell, and Vicki and Carl Zeiger, among other donors, making significant gifts.

“The 2016 Globe Gala, A Night of Revels, was an extraordinary success,” said Old Globe Board Chair Vicki L. Zeiger. “We thank Gala Co-Chairs Karen Cohn, Nina Doede, Laurie Mitchell, and Sheryl White, and Honorary Chair Darlene Marcos Shiley, for creating a celebratory event of beauty and joy. It was a thrill to see our guest performer, Leslie Odom, Jr., bring his amazing talent to the stage, and our 340 guests loved the dinner and dancing on beautiful plaza. On behalf of the Globe’s Board of Directors, I thank everyone—the chairs, the donors, the Board, and the staff—who contributed to the success of this evening.”

Anticipation for the evening began weeks earlier when guests received the invitation designed by Freellance, who also designed the lovely keepsake program booklet given to all guests. The Gala itself began with valet parking in the Alcazar parking lot by Ace Valet Services. Specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were offered by The Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina in the Craig Noel Garden and on the Globe’s Copley Plaza, with furnishings by Classic Party Rentals. Guests were welcomed by the Gala Co-Chairs, along with Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Michael G. Murphy, and mingled on the plaza’s grand entrance as the autumn sun set over Balboa Park.

Gala guests then entered the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, for an exclusive concert on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage by Leslie Odom, Jr., the 2016 Tony Award winner from the wildly successful, landmark musical Hamilton. Accompanied by a five-piece band, Odom performed a selection of showtunes and standards in jazz arrangements from his hit self-titled album, including “Joey, Joey, Joey” from The Most Happy Fella, Johnny Mercer and Joseph Kosma’s “Autumn Leaves,” “The Guilty Ones” from Spring Awakening, and the samba-inspired “Brazil.” He also performed a medley of songs from Nat King Cole, including the classic “Unforgettable.” Odom delighted Gala guests with two songs he has made famous in Hamilton, “Wait for It” and “Dear Theodosia.” He finished the performance by leading the entire audience in singing “Happy Birthday” to Honorary Chair Darlene Marcos Shiley, and then sang her an ethereal, impromptu a cappella version of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young.”

After the performance, guests exited the theatre directly onto Copley Plaza, which was transformed into an enchanting party under the stars, designed by Trevor Norton of Cleverco and featuring lighting from Special Event Audio Services. Swirling orange tablecloths and goldenrod napkins from APR Fine Linens were adorned with shining silverware and gleaming glass plateware arranged around centerpieces featuring roses, orchids, and driftwood, designed by premiere décor specialist Kimberly Buffington of Flowerchild. Beautiful gifts generously provided by Neiman Marcus graced the dinner chairs as guests arrived. The sumptuous dinner, catered by The Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, began with poached pear and endive salad with freshly baked artisan breads, followed by entrées of beef tenderloin medallion, pan-seared salmon, and fava bean and asparagus risotto. The meal ended with apple torte and white chocolate cheesecake. The dinner was complemented with a selection of wines, including Veuve Clicquot Champagne from France; Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand; and Château de Brandey Bordeaux Rouge from France. If that weren’t enough, Caffé Barbera offered freshly brewed espresso, cappuccino, and other coffee delights, and a sweets table was bedecked with 100 pounds of assorted See’s Candy chocolates (with special take-home treat bags).

Gala guests then danced into the night to the music of Play! on the Copley Plaza dance floor under orbed chandeliers made of thousands of twinkling lights. The event was capped off by a spectacular fireworks show by Fireworks America.

Prior to the concert, Mark Drilling of Stokes Auction Group led an appeal to support the Globe’s artistic and arts engagement programs. Many generous guests contributed to this effort.

Prior to the Gala and throughout the evening, Gala supporters were given the opportunity to acquire Globe Experiences, which provide exclusive access to backstage happenings at the Globe as well as unique experiences created specifically for this year’s event. Some of the Globe Experiences on offer were walk-on roles in the Globe’s annual production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!; an onstage catered dinner for 30; opportunities to host underprivileged children to a day at The Grinch; a dinner at the home of Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and his wife Hilit; and a costume from a Globe production that can be professionally displayed at home. Many Globe Experiences are still available to the general public; please contact Donor Services Coordinator Rico Zamora at (619) 684-4118.

LOCATION and PARKING INFORMATION: The Old Globe is located in San Diego’s Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Guests may also be dropped off in front of the Mingei International Museum. The Balboa Park valet is also available during performances ($12), located in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden. For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org. For directions and up-to-date information, please visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/Directions.

PLEASE NOTE: To look up online or GPS directions to The Old Globe, please do not use the Delivery Address above. There is only a 10-minute zone at that physical address. For GPS users, please click here for the map coordinates, and here for written directions to The Old Globe and nearby parking in Balboa Park.

2016-2017 SEASON CALENDAR: October Sky (9/10-10/23), The Lion (9/29-10/30), Globe for All Measure for Measure (11/3-20), Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (11/5-12/26), M.F.A. The Two Gentlemen of Verona (11/12-20), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (2/4-3/12/2017), The Blameless (2/23-3/26), Red Velvet (3/25-4/30), Skeleton Crew (4/8-5/7), The Old Man and The Old Moon (5/13-6/18), The Imaginary Invalid (5/27-6/25).

PHOTO EDITORS: Digital images of The Old Globe’s productions are available at www.TheOldGlobe.org/press-room.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country’s leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego’s flagship arts institution for over 80 years. Under the leadership of Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 15 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre’s artistic and arts engagement programs. Numerous world premieres such as the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Bright Star, Allegiance, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.

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