The exotic notes of the sitar set the tone for
the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s 20th anniversary gala, inspired by the
troupe’s 1960s India-infused take on Love’s
Labor’s Lost. Held in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on Sunday, March 4,
the event incorporated elements from the production, including colors,
costumes, props, and set pieces.
For Shakespeare Theatre Company special events manager Joanne Coutts and public relations manager Liza Lorenz, the trickiest part of planning the gala was making sure the numerous honorees could attend. “These are working actors who have shows—coordinating their schedules with our schedule [and] making sure they didn’t miss a performance” were the biggest challenges, Lorenz said. With 400 guests, the event was slightly downsized this year (a result of having been moved from May to March) but still raised more money than in past years for the annual Free for All, a two-week run of free Shakespeare performances in the Carter Barron Amphitheatre.After cocktails, guests were seated and the program got off to a fast start, with co-chair Kathleen Matthews, former anchor for ABC 7 News, riding to the stage on an electric-powered yellow Vespa. On stage, Matthews refereed a live auction, which included a customized Vespa that garnered a bid from the auctioneer’s husband, Hardball’s Chris Matthews. Later in the evening, 15 company members received the Will award, honoring their years of commitment to classical theater. (Past honorees include Kevin Spacey and Judi Dench.)
Indian flavors permeated Design Cuisine’s meal, which included saffron couscous, crisp papadums, and lamb medallions. Post-dessert, actor Robert Cuccioli took the stage to sing a medley of ’60s tunes.
For Shakespeare Theatre Company special events manager Joanne Coutts and public relations manager Liza Lorenz, the trickiest part of planning the gala was making sure the numerous honorees could attend. “These are working actors who have shows—coordinating their schedules with our schedule [and] making sure they didn’t miss a performance” were the biggest challenges, Lorenz said. With 400 guests, the event was slightly downsized this year (a result of having been moved from May to March) but still raised more money than in past years for the annual Free for All, a two-week run of free Shakespeare performances in the Carter Barron Amphitheatre.After cocktails, guests were seated and the program got off to a fast start, with co-chair Kathleen Matthews, former anchor for ABC 7 News, riding to the stage on an electric-powered yellow Vespa. On stage, Matthews refereed a live auction, which included a customized Vespa that garnered a bid from the auctioneer’s husband, Hardball’s Chris Matthews. Later in the evening, 15 company members received the Will award, honoring their years of commitment to classical theater. (Past honorees include Kevin Spacey and Judi Dench.)
Indian flavors permeated Design Cuisine’s meal, which included saffron couscous, crisp papadums, and lamb medallions. Post-dessert, actor Robert Cuccioli took the stage to sing a medley of ’60s tunes.
The Will Awards\' bright color palette mimicked an Indian spice market.
Photo: BizBash
The auditorium's bright color palette of hot pink, orange, yellow, and lavender mimicked an Indian spice market.
Photo: BizBash
Two-foot-tall hookahs served as vases forarrangements of orchids, tulips, gerbera daisies, carnations, and even smallpineapples, created by Suzanne Codi Floral Designs.
Photo: BizBash
Carolyn Peachy of Campbell Peachy & Associates created the tabletop centerpieces, which featured scaled-down reproductions of props from the play, including hookahs, elephant pedestals, and '60s-style suitcases.
Photo: BizBash
Brightly colored partitions decorated with propsfrom the production separated the cocktail hour from the dinner reception.
Photo: BizBash
A potted banana tree crowned the silent-auction table.
Photo: BizBash
Vespasfigured heavily in the evening’s theme, right down to the tiny models thataccented some of the centerpieces.
Photo: BizBash
Few of Shakespeare’s plays feature a spaceman,but the company’s production of Love’s Labor’s Lost did, and the costumehelped set the gala’s tone.
Photo: BizBash
