The Lesher Center for the Arts’ annual gala was all about the numbers as On Broadway took over half of Walnut Creek’s Locust Street on Saturday night.
Nearly 600 arts patrons filled the 50-by-150-foot tent, seating themselves in 574 ballroom chairs at 55 round tables, decorated with 1,374 orchids and 1,600 napkins. A gourmet dinner served by Barbara Llewellyn Catering & Event Planning arrived on 600 dinner plates accompanied by 1,200 glasses brimming with fine wines chosen by Wente Vineyards. Dessert came in 560 canning jars: Some diners were noted for consuming two or three of the fruity, whipped cream topped confection.
During the silent raffle and cocktail hour, guests clustered together, studying the blue, handheld “Bidpal” devices distributed for bidding.
“Hey! I just got outbid — I bet that’s my wife!” exclaimed Steve Lesher, co-chair for the evening.
The purpose might have been raising money for the arts, but the party was all about fun.
“We like the musicals,” was the the response of 25 visitors asked what they like best about the Lesher. “NEWSMAKERS” was the unofficial runner-up, with a surprising 18 people mentioning Colin Powell’s visit in 2009.
The live auction, served up during dinner, raised decibel levels inside the tent to well over 110. A dinner on stage, then a chat with Laura Bush, November’s NEWSMAKERS speaker, capped off at an astonishing $10,500.
Seven days in a four-bedroom farmhouse in Umbria, Italy, went for $13,500, the top auction item.
With the bidding and outbidding completed, four trumpeters signaled the evening’s featured entertainment. The 560 well-fed party-goers filed into the Hoffman Theatre for comedienne Rita Rudner’s performance. Extending the numerical theme, the band Take 2 played top hits from the '70s, '80s and '90s at the Encore Party.
The Lesher Center made its debut 21 years ago, fulfilling Dean Lesher’s vision of a cultural and artistic “hub” in the East Bay. Some 350,000 people, including 4,500 underserved students who participate in the Arts Access program in 2010, attend close to 900 arts and entertainment productions each year.
The gala raised $238,000 in 2010 and early figures for Saturday’s party put the total at at net of $250,000 — a quarter-million — which would be a record.
Magically, at the end of On Broadway’s fundraising rainbow, this miscellaneous mass of numbers will become more than a pot of gold, with a purpose beyond mathematics. Funds from the gala will support theater, dance and music groups based in or visiting the Lesher during the season.
This means that people — actors, dancers and musicians — will work and thrive in the community. Thousands of children will experience what is often their first, live performance. Local businesses and restaurants will benefit from people coming to Walnut Creek for entertainment. At the highest level, imaginations will be fired and dreams fulfilled. Therein lies the power of numbers.
With the quarter mill donated last night the taxpayers tab should only be $770,493 next year right? This should all be a privately run business that operates with assistance from private donors and whatever non-financial help the city can provide you say? You mean a local government struggling in a recession to pay the basic costs of infrastructure upkeep, police protection, park and open space upkeep, pool maintenance and crossing guards shouldn’t have its own private performing arts company, theater and art gallery? Showing up at the RCA Gala is more about peddling influence among real estate, developer and business interests than about truly caring for the arts? Silly naysayers! It’s just a few million of your dollars so stop being such a downer! *************Insert "It was such a wonderful event" comments below*************
Perhaps I am misguided, but I know that art pays dividends. Kids engaged in art sometimes find themselves staying out of trouble, thus equating the crossing guards who shepherd children safely across streets. And recent visual art exhibitions have paid tribute to nature and open spaces, bringing attention to conservation efforts and enthusiasm for the efforts of park preservation activists. A theater rehearsal I attended last year showed the director teaching teens about personal responsibility, integrity, and hard work. Future police officers? Citizens who learn the benefit of generosity through collaboration? Who knows? Sure, some of the people at the gala earn more in one month than most of us do in a year. But the world they are supporting is aimed at building a future generation of givers, just like the public services SR rightfully identifies as priorities. Again, this is a subject Walnut Creek cares about: I'm fascinated with the conversation and how it might lead to answers.
Well you had better contact them since they have you listed as a Board of Director on their website: - Steve Lesher, Shell Refining Co.
Frankly, the reasons for resentment toward art and gala could fill a book. Let's start with "fulfilling Dean Lesher’s vision of a cultural and artistic “hub”." Who is sharing this valuable insight with you? Are you sure this wasn't "Walnut Creek's vision", especially since 80+% of funding was via the city, including 100% of the adjacent parking? This is exactly the kind of self-serving garbage we see routinely, at Walnut Creek's expense -- they don't serve the city, the city serves them. Some, such as myself, probably resent a small clump of socialLITES -- comprised of developers, politicians, commercial interests, and art advocates (often within the same skin) -- forging an alliance for mutual benefit at WC public expense. The putrid results of this can be seen in everything from library spending (twice rejected by voters) to Peggy White and Carole Wynstra leading the charge for Neiman Marcus as an ART CLUB FUNDRAISER. Deference to the alliance is a prerequisite for service downtown: NO commissioner over the last 20+ years has endorsed ANY candidate not endorsed by Council!!??!! Check out the exchange between myself and David P. over the last couple days to see how crappy this public disregard and personal concern stuff is. Some members of the general public probably resent those that serve themselves instead of the public. They give, but they take so much more -- especially if one is concerned over the dignity and credibility of the city.
Of course you don't view it as a "misuse" -- it promotes LESHER!!! It would only be a misuse, of course, if it promoted something WALNUT CREEK, such as its residents... How many members of the predominantly evening audiences really go on to shop at CLOSED stores??? Any chance you, and the dingbat City Hall that defers to objective opinions such as yours, is overstating economic benefits? Do you have ANYTHING to back that up, aside from national surveys and gut feelings?
I do not believe that our Art programs, the Lesher's, Steve, or the people who attended this event (City Council members excluded, of course) are to blame for our current financial situation, nor should they be persecuted for attending and/or for showing their support. In fact, their volunteerism, both in time and money, should be commended and is one of the reasons I love Walnut Creek and why this community is so great.
While I am here, anyone know how much "Community Service Day" cost "us"?
Your comment touches upon my point. Early in Neiman Marcus, DRAA Director Peggy White -- amazingly -- addressed the WC City Council, urging them to streamline a Neiman project that eclipsed the General Plan -- BECAUSE NEIMAN SUPPORTS ART. Soon, art advocate Carole Wynstra is leading the "Yes" movement. Art club members came out of the woodwork -- most publicly misrepresenting themselves as simply knowledgeable and concerned residents. Council plays along. When I mentioned this special interest glob before Council, Mayor Rainey reassured everyone it was a broad cross-section of advocacy. She and Dick Rainey appear in your Photo #9, left-hand side. Transportation Commissioner (and UCLA Art graduate) Kevin Wilk is noteworthy. In his "expert" opinion, anyone not confusing $300 worth of white-striping paint (to restripe an existing lot) with $8 Million Dollars of DEFERRED city-mandated parking is a liar. He also reassured that the $1M Macerich put into traffic mitigation satisfies traffic concerns. Mr. Wilk has no transportation experience predating Council appointment. Things like valet parking got promoted as "innovative" parking solutions. NO ONE mentioned them five years earlier during General Plan deliberations BECAUSE THAT'S STUPID! Organizing special interests to proclaim "Andronico's is Coming!" is not a replacement for HONEST and COMPETENT City Hall planning, capable of being upheld instead of incessantly torpedoed by its authors.