Jefferson Performing Arts Society Hosts 15th Annual Pasta & Puccini Gala, 10/29

Jefferson Performing Arts Society's (JPAS) 15th Annual Pasta & Puccini Gala will be held on Friday, October 29, 2010 at InterContinental New Orleans, 444 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. Doors will open at 6:30PM. Gala patrons will enjoy an evening of world class entertainment, delicious food donated by a wide array of local restaurants and caterers and exciting auctions to the music of the great Giacomo Puccini. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser will benefit the Jefferson Performing Arts Society's annual theatrical productions and arts outreach programming that annually enrich and serve over 20,000 arts patrons and reach over 10,000 youth throughout five parishes in Southern Louisiana.

The evening includes an open bar, an array of delicacies provided by over 30 local restaurants and caterers, live and silent auctions and live entertainment provided by international performers and the JPAS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dennis G. Assaf. Single tickets start at $125 per patron. Tables of ten start at $1250. To reserve your table/tickets or for more information, contact Pasta & Puccini coordinator Valerie Hart at 504.885.2000 ext. 212, email valerie@jpas.org or visit www.jpas.org.

It will be an enchanted evening featuring the romantic opera classics of Giacomo Puccini performed by international vocalists Hiroko Morita, Nancy Ross, Juan Valls and Victor Garcia Sierra, the principal performers in the upcoming JPAS production of La Boheme at the Northshore Harbor Center in Slidell on October 23, Tulane University's Dixon Hall on October 27 and November 6 at Benet Hall, St. Joseph's Abbey in Covington. The performers will be accompanied by the JPAS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Dennis G. Assaf, JPAS Executive/Artistic Director.

Renowned artist James Michalopolous and Reese Johanson will serve as honorary gala chairs and celebrity auctioneers. They will auction gorgeous jewelry pieces from Hiller Jewelry, Symmetry, Wellington & Company, a spa package for eight from LaRiveria Salon and Spa, a dinner for 10 with wine parings from the Marriott Lakeway and a beautiful Marc Chagall work of art from Windsor Gallery. Our silent auction will amaze guests with over 200 gift items including hotel and dinner packages, rides in Mardi Gras parades, jewelry and other exciting items. For your culinary appetite, there's a dinner buffet provided by 30 of the area's finest restaurants and caterers and libations include a Champagne bar sponsored by Lexus of New Orleans, a Puccini Punch from the Old New Orleans Rum and Sangria from Cucos, to name a few.

JPAS is honored to have the support and friendship of Sammy L. Steele, III and the Dr. Donald and JJ Dooley Fund for this year's Gala. Mr. Steele, III will be honored as "Prince Calaf" of the Gala for his generous support. JPAS is also honored to once again have the support of the Robert & Jeri Nims Foundation for this year's gala. The Jefferson Performing Arts Society is proud to partner with InterContinental New Orleans for a second year with hosting the annual Pasta & Puccini Fundraising Gala. InterContinental New Orleans is one of the few hotels in the New Orleans Metro Area that is able to comfortably host over 500 patrons with room for large stage for live performances by a full symphony orchestra. This lavish event will extend throughout all the ballrooms on the third floor of this world-class hotel.

All proceeds from this annual Gala will benefit the many facets of Jefferson Performing Arts Society's programming and outreach including productions in the JPAS 33rd Theatrical season, arts outreach programs and children's arts programs. Jefferson Performing Arts Society is a non-profit professional arts organization whose mission is to promote arts performance, training and outreach by providing a diverse range of quality programs that entertain, educate and enrich the cultural and economic vitality of Jefferson Parish, Greater New Orleans and the Gulf South.

For more information, visit www.jpas.org.