Kitchen Theatre's Annual Fundraising Gala Raises More Than $38,000

Kitchen Theatre Company's 6th Annual Dance The Night Away fundraising event on Saturday March 5, 2016 was a great success, raising over $38,000.

The event matches local celebrities with Kitchen Theatre Company professional dancers and choreographers who prepare exhibition dances and raise money through sponsorship of friends and supporters. Months of planning and rehearsals culminate in an evening of performances, food, drink and dancing for all to the music of Little Joe and the Big Shots. Individual sponsorship of dancers, ticket sales, business sponsorships and this year a live auction add to the total revenue raised to support the theater. This year nearly 400 people supported dancers with donations. Kitchen Theatre Company's stage was filled to capacity with supporters dancing and celebrating this event.

"There is so much community support. For the fourth year, CFCU Community Credit Union was our Lead Corporate Sponsor. Other sponsors include: Cayuga Medical Center; Cornell University Hospital for Animals; CSP Management; King Ferry Winery; Travis Hyde Properties; Karen Eldridge, Licensed Real Estate Broker, Realty USA; and Dianne and Jim Orcutt. Without this kind of community support we wouldn't be able to accomplish the work that we do," said Managing Director, Stephen Nunley.

"We had everything from Waltz to Funk, " adds KTC Artistic Director, Rachel Lampert, who also choreographed three celebrity dance numbers. "There was so much energy and excitement in the room as this year's celebrities took to the dance floor. Everyone appreciated all the work that went into getting such a high level of performance."

This years' celebrities and dancers included Denny Grout of Hairy Canary,celebrating her third year as top fundraiser, Chris Allinger of QCounty/CayugaRadio Group, Joe Lonsky of Little Joe and the Big Shots, Beth Putnum of CFCU Community Credit Union, and Kitchen Theatre Company perennial favorite actor, Karl Gregory. Also dancing were Kitchen Theatre Board Members, Percy Browning, Cheryl Mitchell and Jamie Morrisey, choreographers Tucker Davis, Sara Lampert Hoover, Lesley Greene and Evie Hammer-Lester, plus Kitchen Theatre staff members, Rachel Lampert, Stephen Nunley and Emily Jackson.