“GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY”
Symphony Gala to Celebrate Showstoppers
The annual Gala to support the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra will bring the excitement of Broadway musicals to the Riverdome at Horseshoe Casino on Thursday evening, Sept. 6.
Anticipated to be a sold-out affair, the event will feature members of the Symphony led by Music Director Michael Butterman. Joining the Symphony onstage will be a variety of vocalists and dancers, including Shreveport-Bossier’s own Rocky Maddox, Gale Odom, Mike Martindale, Lester Senter Wilson, Emily Petzold and Margaret Williams Jones, who will perform both classic and modern Broadway hits.
Guests can look forward to walking the red carpet and posing for photos. Gala committee chair is Anne Wilson; event co-chairs are Jennifer Butterman and Leigh Anne Chambers. Celebrity emcees and auctioneers will be Dan and Jacque Jovic, both Emmy Awardwinning journalists and evening anchors of local KTAL-NBC 6 news.
The acts will be intermittent during the evening, giving guests time in between to enjoy dinner and visit the extensive silent auction, which already includes vacation homes, dinners, limousine service and a farm party for 100 guests. A live auction with a few big-ticket items will be preceded by a game of “Heads or Tails,” with the winner receiving a gift from Stephen Miller Fine Jewelry.
“Our gala is important to us because it is an opportunity to build a sense of community, camaraderie and common purpose among our supporters and patrons, while helping to raise funds that will enable us to fulfill our mission to bring great symphonic music to the people of the Ark-La-Tex,” said Butterman.
Shreveport adds immeasurably to the region’s cultural vitality and quality of life, according to the maestro. When putting together each season, he says the goal is to provide a range of Individuals, companies and experiences that will speak to people of foundations are invited to sponsor the Gala or to donate goods or services to the auction. Three tiers of sponsorships each come with a VIP table for eight. New this year: “Walking ads” for Diamond and Gold sponsors will be carried by Centenary College student volunteers.
Funds raised at the Gala support not only the season all backgrounds and ages, and to present concerts that are warm and welcoming to symphony aficionados and first-timers alike.
Just this year the orchestra has performed the music of the Rolling Stones, popular movie masterpieces by John Williams, songs by the well-known women of rock and roll, and works performances but also the by internationally acclaimed Symphony’s robust education composer and conductor and community engagement Leonard Bernstein.
programs, like the Discovery Guests who performed live Concerts for elementary
were Erich Bergen, star of students. Over the years, the Symphony “Jersey Boys” and “Madam Secretary”; has partnered with ArtSpace, Robinson Broadway sensation Sutton Foster; Film Center, Shreveport Little Theatre, cellist and Shreveport native John-Henry Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, Crawford; the Wideman International Shreveport Opera, Strand Theatre and others, together contributing to the strength and depth of Shreveport’s performing arts community.
Piano Competition Gold Medalist Aristo Sham; and Ricardo Morales, principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The season finale on May 5 will present Having a vibrant symphony in Grammy-nominated violin sensation
