SAVE THE DATE
The 37th Annual Grand Gala - December 7, 2013 - 8:00 p.m.
The 36th Annual Grand Gala was a moving and memorable evening. Hundreds of generous patrons descended on Market Street for pre-parties at A.R. Morris and Ernest and Scott Taproom and entered Copeland Hall for an 8:00 p.m. show, which began with a rousing and emotional tribute to the men and women of our military. Major General Francis D. Vavala, Gala Co-Chair, thanked The Grand and the community for its support and then presented the Honor Guard for a procession onto the stage. The Delaware National Guard 287th Army Band led the crowd in The Star Spangled Banner and a medley of hymns from each branch of service, during which time members of the audience proudly stood in representation of their branch. After the Honor Guard was dismissed, a video tribute, produced by TJ Healy II and Voices of War, left nary a dry eye in the house.
Governor Jack Markell, Gala Co-Chair and Commander in Chief of the Delaware National Guard, expressed his deepest appreciation to the military on behalf of the grateful citizens of Delaware.
Our Gala performers, Pink Martini, took the stage and led everyone in a rendition of “America the Beautiful” to make the tribute complete. They followed with an exciting and dynamic show that featured special guest and NPR correspondent, Ari Shapiro as vocalist, and included international holiday favorites, Bollywood inspired songs, and classics like “Amado Mio”.
The ultimate after party at Hotel DuPont followed the show where guests dined on gourmet fare and fine desserts. Arts Academy teacher Shaun Doughterty with his jazz trio, The Fabulous Greaseband, Karen Rodriguez Latin Jazz Ensemble, and DJ Jerry Beaven, A.W.E., had everyone dancing into the wee hours of the morning.
Proceeds from the Gala directly benefit arts education programs that serve more than 20,000 children throughout Delaware. DanceWorks!, Stage of Discovery, Arts Academy, and Summer Children’s Theater are a few examples of the opportunities for inspiration and creativity that plant the seeds for the next generation of cultural treasures.
THE 2011 GRAND GALA: OH, WHAT A NIGHT!
The 35th Annual Grand Gala proved to be one of the most exciting, enchanting, and successful in recent history, honoring not only one of Delaware's most enduring civic figures, but also celebrating the influential sounds of the '60s with a dazzling performance by the Midtown Men.
The 2011 Grand Gala paid tribute to the Honorable Michael N. Castle, Delaware's longest-serving U.S. Representative and former Governor. In addition to a stirring video dedication from some of Delaware's most notable political and community figures, The Grand presented Castle with a loft block from the Aldine Theater, a historic Wilmington venue that once occupied the lot where the baby grand now operates. Essentially a pulley tool for theaters that is situated at the top of a stage, a loft block is known for doing all the heavy lifting during any given production, and is considered the hardest-working piece of equipment on stage. The tool served as a fitting metaphor for the kind of civic service Mike Castle has accomplished on behalf of Delaware during his storied career.
“Grand Gala night is a far cry from my earliest involvement with The Grand, when I recall paying a few cents to see a cowboy double feature,” said Castle. “The Grand has been one of Delaware’s iconic landmarks and greatest cultural treasures since its reopening in 1976. I am deeply touched and humbled to be singled out as this year’s Gala Honoree.”
View the video tribute to Mike Castle below:
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Following the tribute, and playing to a packed and eager house, the Midtown Men (the four original stars of Broadway's Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys) offered their harmony-driven take on the legendary music of the '60s, including masterful medley tributes to the Beach Boys and Motown. The debonair group also performed the hits of artists such as The Beatles, The Mamas and The Papas, and the Four Seasons.
The party of the year continued at the Hotel DuPont, where guests enjoyed unique buffet options, interesting cocktails (including Cotton Candy martinis), and performances from artists such as the acclaimed, rapidly-rising jazz singer Champian Fulton.
The Gala is the major source of funding for The Grand’s highly-acclaimed Community Engagement, Stage of Discovery, and Arts Academy at The Grand programs, which annually serve tens of thousands of Delaware students. Proceeds from the Grand Gala make it possible for more than 20,000 children to gain rewarding experiences in the arts through music, dance, instrumental lessons, and theater performances. Local corporate and individual support of The Grand Gala is a vital component to the continued success of these programs.
Watch The 2010 Grand Gala tribute to longtime philanthropist, civil rights crusader, and community leader James H. Gilliam, Sr.:
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A Look Back at the 2010 Gala
Rarely is an occasion as momentous as the 34th Annual Grand Gala, which celebrated not only the legacy of fine music and local heroes, but also looked forward to the future of one of Delaware’s finest arts organizations. The Grand Opera House – Market Street’s “Grand Old Lady” – played host to both new and familiar faces on Saturday, December 4th. Though the event was long in the making, it proved to be even lengthier in anticipation, as local dignitaries, community leaders, supporters, and friends awaited the unfolding excitement of the well-named “party of the year.”
The night began intimately in the baby grand, where Grand Gala honoree and local community leader James H. Gilliam Sr. was venerated by The Grand and other Delaware leaders, including Governor Jack Markell, Senator Tom Carper, and newly-elected Senator Chris Coons. As the theater filled with patrons and the stage began to glow , a specially-produced video – which featured an appearance by Vice President Joe Biden – paid tribute to Gilliam, who The News Journal hails as a “longtime philanthropist, civil rights crusader, and New Castle County's first housing director.” To all in the audience, Gilliam’s life work for the betterment of Delaware’s community was made resoundingly clear, and the retired army captain was greeted with a lengthy standing ovation at the video’s conclusion.
The stage was then met by the night’s main performers: legendary English symphonic rock band Procol Harum, the OperaDelaware Chorus, and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. Once again, the Grand Gala brought a musical legacy to vivid life: On November 18, 1971, Procol Harum created a seminal moment in pop-rock history by performing with The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Da Camera Singers at Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Widely credited as the first band to bridge the gap between modern pop-rock and the classical music world, the recording of that concert went on to sell millions of albums and opened the door for the marriage of pop music to symphony programs all over the world.
The 34th Grand Gala faithfully created that decisive event to the joy of a captivated audience, culminating in the performance of the British band’s famed #1 1967 hit, “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” The song has been recognized by Phonographic Performance Limited as the most-played record of the past 70 years, and was listed at #57 on Rolling Stone's “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
“Both The Grand and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra have been seeking to present a joint event of this magnitude for the past few years,” said The Grand’s Executive Director, Steve Bailey. “When you have the region’s best and biggest house band, you naturally want to show them off, and there could be no better vehicle than the re-creation of the music from that legendary concert by Procol Harum and The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.”
“The musicians, board and staff of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra are thrilled to be a part of the Grand Gala this year,” added Lucinda Williams, Executive Director of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. “Through this collaboration with The Grand and guest artist Procol Harum, our exceptional orchestra musicians had the chance to step out of the ‘classical box’ and show they have the stuff to rock it out!”
Both Williams and Bailey stressed the importance of an ongoing collaboration between The Grand and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. Bailey states that, “Although many people attend both DSO and Grand-sponsored performances during the course of each season, Lucinda and I thought it would be great to find a show that brings them together for a very special night. Celebrating and supporting the arts, no matter what your particular tastes may be, is what this night was all about.”
The night’s entertainment was not finished with the concert, however. Soon, theatergoers filed out onto a festively-decorated Market Street, making their way to the Hotel du Pont for the Gala’s celebrated after party. There an assortment of food, drink, live performance, dancing, and great conversation awaited them. The Hotel’s elegant Gold Ballroom was the ideal place to mingle and make merry, as favorite local jam band Club Phred played well into the night.
Other entertainment included The Champian Fulton Jazz Trio in the DuBarry Room, the Bobby Kyle Band in the Grille, Dylan Babitch in the Lobby Lounge, sleight-of-hand artist Larry Denburg, and a photo booth provided by the Wilmington Photo Booth Company.
Two highlights to this year’s After Party are the addition of the Hotel DuPont’s exclusive Green Room, which featured exquisite desserts and a breathtaking, ceiling-high Christmas Tree, and a surprise performance by Procol Harum lead singer and pianist Gary Brooker, who joined Club Phred on-stage towards the end of the evening for an encore performance of “A Whiter Shade of Pale.”
“I actually sent Gary [Brooker] an e-mail last week, extending an invitation to him," says Club Phred band leader and Grand board member Fred Dawson to The News Journal. "I told him if he's not worn out from playing 'Whiter Shade of Pale' 90,000 times, he can make it 90,001 because we will be playing that song again.”
The Grand Gala is an annual benefit to support Arts Education at The Grand. Proceeds from the Grand Gala make it possible for more than 20,000 children to participate in individual and group instruction in music and dance, attend live theater performances, and experience the arts. Our patrons' support of the annual Grand Gala is a vital component to the continued success of these programs.
In the embrace of graceful surroundings, joyful music, and their friends and loved ones, it became clear to many patrons that the Grand Gala was about more than just a fun night on the town. It was about celebrating the craft of live performance, the enrichment of a budding artistic culture in Wilmington, and most of all, developing a sense of community for those who aspire to learn about, perform, and cultivate the fine arts. Without a doubt, the 34th Grand Gala honored the legacy of the past and the promise of a brighter future.
Generous corporate support confirmed for the 2010 Grand Gala includes:
Platinum Sponsors:
Bank of America, Delmarva Power, and ING Direct
Gold Sponsors:
AstraZeneca and JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Silver Sponsors:
DuPont, PNC Foundation, and Wilmington Trust
Bronze Sponsors:
WSFS Bank and Nordstrom
*Not A Performance Of, Nor Affiliated With the Show Jersey Boys.