On Saturday, October 6, 2012, downtown Walnut Creek will become the setting for On Broadway, a black-tie gala to celebrate and support the hundreds of outstanding arts and youth programs presented each year at the Lesher Center for the Arts.
More than 500 leaders in arts, business and the community will attend the event, which takes place that evening in an elegant tent raised outside the center and in the Center’s main Hofmann Theatre.
Proceeds from On Broadway go towards enhancing performing and visual arts at the Center and increasing the number of East Bay children and families enjoying programs such as the Arts Access School Time field trips for underserved K-12 students and the annual Chevron Family Theatre Festival.
Funds raised through On Broadway’s silent and live auctions also will allow the Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA)—the Lesher Center’s nonprofit partner and the host of On Broadway—to expand the diversity of high-quality entertainment available in the East Bay suburbs. This past summer, DRAA launched the Jazz at the Lesher series. By bringing five of jazz music’s top international artists to perform in Walnut Creek, the sold-out concert series filled a void in the local music scene and delighted jazz fans all over the Bay Area.
This will be the third year that On Broadway – named the East Bay’s best gala by readers of Diablo magazine—has taken place outside the Center. Guests will enjoy a fabulous night of gourmet dining under the stylish tent, a stunning entertainment lineup, a lively auction and an encore dance party.
This year’s headline performer is TV and standup comedy star Caroline Rhea. Known for her role in Sabrina, The Teenage Witch and as the original host for The Biggest Loser. Rhea will take to the Hofmann Theatre stage and delight guests with her giddy and irreverent humor.
Also on the program is the all-girl rock string quartet Phat Strad. These classically trained musicians have dazzled audiences around the world with their innovative mastery of futuristic instruments.
Star East Bay caterer Barbara Llewellyn of Barbara Llewellyn Catering and Event Planning is designing the evening’s menu, which promises to feature delicious, innovative appetizers, entrees and desserts. Wente Vineyards will once again provide its signature wine.
Showing a broad range of community support, more than 60 companies and community leaders have signed on to sponsor On Broadway, which is co-chaired by Jill and Malcolm Winspear. These sponsors include the Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation and three major companies that have supported the Lesher Center since it opened in 1990: Chevron the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s gala, Target, and Wells Fargo. At last year’s On Broadway, guests bidding on unique entertainment, travel and gift packages during the silent and live auctions
helped DRAA raise more than $250,000 to support artistic and educational programs at the Lesher Center.
Limited tickets are still available at $300. The price includes cocktails, dinner, the headliner show and access to the popular encore party. To purchase tickets or for more information about the event, visit www.draa.org or call 925-295-1470.
About Lesher Center for the Arts
The Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA), located in Walnut Creek, California, is the premier destination for an exceptional arts and entertainment experience in the East Bay. First opened in October 1990, the Center presents more than 900 productions and events each year, serving more than 350,000 patrons. The Center is owned and operated by the City of Walnut Creek.www.lesherartscenter.org
About Diablo Regional Arts Association
As the nonprofit partner of the LCA, the Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) enriches the lives of thousands of East Bay residents every year by raising funds to support the full spectrum of arts at the Lesher Center for the Arts including: drama, musical theatre, dance, opera, music, and the visual arts. In addition, through its Arts Access program, DRAA is dedicated to providing families, children, seniors, educators and low-income or at-risk individuals the opportunity to experience the arts. www.draa.org
