CSULB Theatre Arts Department Announces 2016 Gala Host, Honorees

CSULB Theatre Arts Department recently announced their 2nd annual gala, Theatre Art á la Carte, to raise funds for student educational programs, honor community partners, and "celebrate all things theatre." The event, to be held on Sunday, May 1st at the Theatre Arts building, will be hosted by Craig Anton, an accomplished comedian as seen on Jimmy Kimmel and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Honorees are Dr. David Dowell, CSULB's Provost and Senior Vice President, retiring this year; Jerry and Flora Loeb, long-time CSULB Theatre Arts board members and greater Long Beach arts contributors; and Jeremy Ancalade, VP of Operations at The Trevor Project and alumnus of the program.

Due to last year's successful gala, which attracted over 100 supporters of the arts and raised significant funds for student development and enrichment, this year's event will feature the same layout with offerings presented by faculty, staff, and students. The evening is laid out in the style of a dinner menu, giving guests the opportunity to experience theatre events "á la Carte," and craft their own individualized entertainment, as opposed to being seated at a traditional gala dinner.

Events for the evening will begin with a cocktail hour featuring a silent auction and a sneak peek at the 2016 Design Expo, highlighting the work of graduate and undergraduate costume, scenic, and lighting design students, allowing attendees to socialize with fellow arts lovers. Light refreshments will be served during this time and will lead into the opening "appetizer" performance by Vannia Ibarguen, Artistic Director of the internationally-acclaimed Global Water Dancers, leading students in an expressive dance performance seeking to raise awareness for water issues locally and globally.

During the "main course," guests will select two events to attend; Managing Director Megan Crockett says that this experience "allows our patrons an intimate look into all that encompasses our Theatre Department." Gala attendees can choose to see a talk by Dr. Jaye Austin Williams examining the play Pickling, by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, or take a sketching lesson from nationally-acclaimed design faculty Gayle Baizer. Selections will also include a backstage tour of the newly technologically-renovated University Theatre, four world premiere plays in a New Works festival created by 70 undergraduate students in a collaborative process, or an interactive improv workshop by faculty member Josh Nathan as seen in LA's The Groundlings Theatre Troupe.

Alexandra Billings, from the Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated hit show Transparent, will close the evening in song while desserts are served to guests. Billings recently wrote and starred in the CSULB hit cabaret S/He & Me this past fall, which was inspired by her own life's journey.

Tickets are $100 and tables of 10 are available for $1000 by visiting gala.calrep.org. For more information about the event or how to support the CSULB Theatre Arts Department, please contact Christina Ramos, Director of Special Events, at 562-985-4500 or Christina@calrep.org.

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