June 6, 2001

OTP stages glittery gala

Black and White raises $63,000 for Playhouse

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       From Greek statues and a mime to champagne and a variety show, the glitterati of Traverse City turned out to support the Old Town Playhouse at the third annual Black and White Gala.
      Held Saturday night at Frog Pond Village in Interlochen, the evening of fun, food and festivities drew 200 attendees, who raised $63,000 for playhouse programs, equipment and facilities. In addition, ten percent of that money will be used to seed an endowment fund for the playhouse and another 20 percent will go toward debt reduction.
      "Last year's money went to lighting equipment and wireless microphones," said Mary Gillett, executive director of the Old Town Playhouse. "This fund-raiser helps us invest back into the quality of the Playhouse's product."
      As evening gowns and tuxedoes swirled around the Greek-themed reception room, the laughter and enthusiasm of those present spoke of the playhouse's wide community support.
      "We were thrilled with everything," Gillett said. "The show went beautifully and everybody was really responsive and seemed to love the show."
      Entertainment during hors d'oeuvres included violin solos by Sam Clark, mime by Toma (also known as Tom Johnson) and a Northwestern Michigan College art student, Noah Wilberding, drawing caricatures for the crowd. A gourmet meal provided edible theater and a variety show led by Larry Avery, owner of Dill's Saloon, dazzled the crowd afterward.
      "This is the greatest party of the year," said Brenda Biederman, chair of the Black and White Gala. "This is not just a fundraising event with a meal and an auction, when you come here we are going to give you a show and it is going to be great."
      The auction was there, of course, with a wide array of artist's donations filled out by more mundane items such as stereo systems, wine and rugs. A big seller was a set of Michigan-Ohio State football game tickets while a vasectomy donated by Gillett's husband, a local urologist, remained unsold. A week's stay at a condo in Acapulco netted $4,000 for the Playhouse.
      Gillett points to the more than 60 volunteers who helped at the event, doing everything from parking to serving to posing as statues, as the key to success. This participation is the heart of a community theater, she noted.
      "Our volunteers pulled off this incredible gala and did an incredible show in one night," she added. "Behind the scenes we had some people there day in and day out building the stage and doing the decorating. You couldn't do this without them."
      Tina Tank, one of the volunteers selling theater raffle tickets, said wide community support for the playhouse brings in both patrons and volunteers. The Old Town Playhouse's quality product and mission naturally bring out the best in the community. Her perspective spans to the early days of the Playhouse's revival, which her husband spearheaded in the 1970s with a production of "The Lion in Winter."
      "This is a very generous community and people here really know how to give," she said. "Over the years, I've just volunteered whenever I am needed."