Friday, November 18, 2011
6:30pm

SAVE THE DATE for Northwest Arkansas’s landmark annual event celebrating innovative arts learning—the 2011 TheatreSquared Gala for Education. Join 250 of our region’s arts, civic and corporate leaders in celebration and support of T2 for Education, serving 5,000 students and teachers each year.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

  • Gourmet plated dinner and wine reception at the newly relaunched MERMAIDS RESTAURANT
  • Command cabaret performance by CHRIS CRAWFORD, star of Boeing-Boeing and winner of the Kennedy Center’s 2007 Irene Ryan Award
  • Presentation of the 2011 Arts Advocate Award to FRANK AND SARA SHARP
  • Presentation of the special 25th AnniversaryDistinguished Regional Funder Award to the WILLARD AND PAT WALKER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
  • The 2011 "SPARKLING" WINE RAFFLE, awarding one lucky winner a $1,500 gift certificate to Romance Diamond Co., a collection of exceptional wines selected by Bordinos Restaurant, and a private wine tasting for eight guests at The Wine Cellar

2011 Gala Co-Chairs: Becky and Bob Alexander, Terrye and Patric Brosh, Lynn and Joel Carver, Roger Collins, Marybeth Cornwell, Sandy Edwards, Denise and Hershey Garner, Susan and Orville Hall, Ellen and Malcolm Hayward, Janet and Jimm Hendren, Margaret and Dick Rutherford.

Proceeds support TheatreSquared's innovative outreach program, T2 for Education, which reaches over 5,000 students and teachers each year through student performances, teacher workshops, and in-school literacy residencies.

Friday, November 18, 6:30pm. Seating is limited. 

Frank and Sara Sharp, Frank and Sara Sharp. Photo by M. Taylor Long.2011 Arts Advocate Award recipients, have been active supporters of the Northwest Arkansas cultural community for more than forty years. Frank served on the Fayetteville City Board from 1979 to 1984 and was instrumental in the creation of the Walton Arts Center—securing funding through a dedicated local sales tax, mediating discussions between the University and City of Fayetteville, and helping to hire the WAC's first executive director. Sara served as the president of the Board for the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (NASO) from 1984 to 1986—a time during which she was actively involved in making performances a reality, from fundraising to hauling music stands in the Sharp family truck. More recently, Frank co-chaired the capital campaign to build a new 7,500-square-foot facility for KUAF, and both Frank and Sara served on the Board of Advisors to relaunch NASO in 2011 as the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA).

The Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, recipient of the special Distinguished Regional Funder Award, marks its 25th Anniversary in 2011. Willard and Pat Walker created the Foundation in 1986 to provide support to non-profit organizations that promote healthcare, education, and humanitarian causes. With the legacy of Willard and Pat setting the standard for giving, the Foundation has since touched the lives of thousands of Arkansans, and continues to make grants which enable organizations to afford programming and education to enrich lives and allow individuals to reach their full potential. Selected arts- and education-focused organizations that have benefited from the Foundation's support include Arts Center of the Ozarks, Arts Live Theatre, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, TheatreSquared, the Walton Arts Center, and the University of Arkansas.

Chris Crawford, featured entertainer at the 2011 Gala, most recently appeared as Robert in TheatreSquared’s hit comedy Boeing-Boeing. He is the 2007 National Winner of the Kennedy Center Irene Ryan Award for Acting as well as the Mark Twain Award for Outstanding Comedic Performance. He serves as the Producing Artistic Director of The Playhouse Theatre in Tulsa. Selected regional credits include: Edward II in Edward II (Shakespeare Theatre Company—Washington, DC); Moonlight and Magnolias, Shining City, Macbeth, I Love You Because (Playhouse Tulsa); and many others. He is a graduate of the MFA Acting program at the University of Arkansas.

PARTICIPATION LEVELS

Tables and tickets include a tax-deductible donation to T2 for Education, serving 5,000 students throughout Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas Delta region.

School Sponsors ($5,000) receive:

  • year-long T2 for Education sponsor recognition, including lobby signage and program logo placement (95 performances for 10,000 patrons)
  • premiere signage and spoken recognition at event
  • six Opening Night subscriptions to the TheatreSquared season
  • premiere placement on half-page salute in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
  • signage and spoken recognition for education series (12 performances)
  • table of 10

Education Partners ($2,500) receive:

  • prime signage and spoken recognition at event
  • prime placement on half-page salute in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
  • year-long listing in TheatreSquared performance programs
  • signage and spoken recognition for education series (12 performances)
  • table of 10

Student Supporters ($1,000) receive:

  • preferred print recognition at event
  • listing on half-page salute in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
  • table of 8

Guest Tables ($800) receive:

  • table of 8

Sponsor Tickets ($250) receive:

  • year-long listing in TheatreSquared performance programs
  • listing on half-page salute in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
  • preferred seating for one guest at the event

Individual Tickets ($100) receive:

  • one ticket for the evening's event