Tickets on Sale for On Broadway Gala

East Bay’s Premiere Gala Enriches Arts and Youth Programs at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts

 On Broadway, recently voted the East Bay’s best gala, will be held Saturday, October 5, 2013 in downtown Walnut Creek.  The black-tie event will raise funds to support the hundreds of outstanding arts programs presented each year at the Lesher Center for the Arts.  More than 500 leaders in arts, business and the community will attend the evening’s festivities.  Dining will be held in an elegant tent raised outside the center and the Headliner Show will be held in the Center’s Hofmann Theatre.  Proceeds from On Broadway go towards enhancing performing and visual arts at the Center and increasing the number of East Bay students 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, like the Jazz at the Lesher Series added in 2011. This year’s auction items include VIP tickets to the Grammy Awards, a vacation at an Italian villa, and dinner with Madeleine Albright. 

Guests will enjoy a fabulous night of gourmet dining under the stylish tent, a stunning entertainment line-up, a lively auction and an encore dance party.  This year’s headline performer is TV and Broadway star Ana Gasteyer of Saturday Night Live, ABC’s Suburgatory, and Broadway. Also on the program are two Bay Area favorite dance bands.  The outside stage will feature Night Fever, a versatile, high energy party band that will  play pop tunes, and after the Headliner performance guests can  swing dance to Martini Straight Up.

Star East Bay caterer 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 provide its signature wine.

Showing a broad range of community support, nearly 50 companies and community leaders have signed on to sponsor On Broadway, which is co-chaired by Malcolm Winspear and Laura Lamison. These sponsors include the Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation, Chevron - the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s gala, Neiman Marcus, and Wells Fargo. Last year the event helped DRAA raise more than $275,000 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 encore party. To purchase tickets or for more information about the event, visit www.draa.org or call 925-295-1470.