Civic Theatre of Allentown to Host TONYS & TAPAS Benefit, 6/9

On Sunday, June 9, the same day as the nationally televised Tony Awards Ceremony, Civic Theatre of Allentown will present its 3rd annual Tonys & Tapas Benefit to raise money for the theatre. Guests will enjoy vocal performances from recent productions, as well as appetizer samplings from some of the Valley's finest restaurants and caterers. There will also be a silent auction, open wine bar, and signature cocktails. The festivities will be held on Sunday, June 9, at 4 - 6:30 PM at the Nineteenth Street Theatre.

Civic's Tonys and Tapas honors the theatre's link to the larger American Theatre community as that community celebrates its biggest night of the year -- the handing out of the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards for Excellence in Broadway Theatre. Civic's celebration not only includes a brief musical performance by the theatre's Acting Company, but highlights the culinary offerings of area restaurants and caterers -- who are providing small bites, or tapas, for the celebration's guests.

The catering for the event includes "Tapas" stations by Bon Appetina Catering, Cactus Blue, Catering by Karen Hunter, The Culinary Experience, Maison Blanc, LaDolce Vita Italian Bakery, Louie's Restaurant, Panera Bread, Southern Delights, Sugar & Spice Pies, and West End Gastro Club. The stations will be set up on the stage of the 19th Street Theatre -- giving each business to bask in the spotlight in a very theatrical setting.

"Civic Theatre is proud of the role it plays in the Lehigh Valley's cultural community. We realized that as New York celebrates the end of its theatrical season, that holding our event on the same day could be a nice way to focus attention on quality theatre right here in the Lehigh Valley. We are just finishing a great year of live performances on stage at our historic 19th Street Theatre, so it seems fitting to invite patrons and friends to join us for a mini-feast on that same stage -- and sample the culinary offerings of some of the regions' best restaurants and caterers," says Michael Traupman, Managing Director.

Sponsors for Tonys and Tapas include Gross McGinley, Highmark, PPL, Buckno Lisicky and Company, Dietrick Group, National Penn Bank, Lehigh Valley Style, Harmony Press, and Phoebe Floral Shop.

Among the items up for auction this year include an autographed hockey stick by former Phantoms and current Flyers player Sean Couturier, an Allentown Firefighter for a Day experience, a shirt worn by James Gandolfini on The Sopranos, jewelry, restaurant certificates, and much more.

Tickets cost: $75/single, $135/double, and $250/patron double, and are available at civictheatre.com, at the Nineteenth Street Theatre, or by calling (610) 433-8903.

Civic Theatre of Allentown is a 501c3 non-profit organization that has earned a regional reputation for its artistic quality and commitment to diverse, challenging works of theatre and art cinema.