Casa Manana Presents LAUGH WITH A LEGEND: AN EVENING WITH MARTIN SHORT 8/29
By: Gabrielle Sierra Aug. 03, 2009
Casa Mañana is excited to announce that Tony and Emmy Award-winning comedian Martin Short will be the entertainment at this year's Laugh with a Legend Gala on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at Casa Mañana Theatre in Fort Worth.
Casa Mañana continues its long-standing tradition of presenting world-class entertainment when it launches Fort Worth's 2009 - 2010 social season with the Laugh with a Legend Gala. Jay Leno, Mandy Patinkin, Larry Hagman and Bob Newhart are a short list of stars that have appeared at previous Galas. The exclusive, black tie event will benefit Casa Mañana's Arts Education & Outreach Program that reaches more than 155,000 children each year across North Texas, the largest program of its kind in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The event is the theatre's largest fundraiser, and the 2009 Gala is chaired by Jackie Harris, who is also a member of Casa Mañana's Board of Directors.
"Our Gala is a wonderful way to not only celebrate the education programming of Casa Mañana but also to ensure that the theatre is able to continue this programming far into the future," said President & Executive Producer Wally Jones.
Prior to Mr. Short's performance at 8:45 p.m., the full evening will include pre-show cocktails, dinner, and auction beginning at 6:00 p.m. Following the performance, guests will enjoy an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing until dawn to the music of The Wonders. This show is suitable for some audiences; parental discretion is advised. For more information, go to www.casamanana.org/gala.
The comedic abilities of Martin Short helped land him on Saturday Night Live in the mid-1980s. After only one season on the show, Short was instantly recognized for his standout performances and on-the-mark impressions of such characters as Ed Grimly, Jackie Rogers Jr., legendary songwriter Irving Cohen and lawyer Nathan Thurm. The exposure he gained from Saturday Night Live helped land Short his big screen debut in Three Amigos. One of Short's most memorable roles was that of the scene-stealing Franck, the wedding planner in Father of the Bride. He reprised the hilarious role in Father of the Bride Part II.
Short's television credits include an Emmy nominated role in the NBC mini-series Merlin and his role as the "Mad Hatter" in NBC's Alice in Wonderland. In 2001, Short created and starred in Primetime Glick for Comedy Central. "Jiminy Glick" was a fictitious character, a 'Hollywood legend and celebrity interviewer' Short derived from his talk/variety entertainment program The Martin Short Show. Primetime Glick earned Short an Emmy nomination. Along with his film and television credits, Short has also had great success on Broadway. In 2003, Short starred in Mel Brooks' critically acclaimed Broadway hit The Producers with Jason Alexander. Short returned to the Broadway stage in 2006 in his critically acclaimed musical-comedy Fame Becomes Me.
Tables for 10 guests to the Gala range from $5,000 to $50,000 with benefits appropriate to the respective level. A special Premium Couple's Package for 2 guests is available for $2,500. An individual Gala seat is available for $550. Seats at the Gala include a pre-show cocktail reception, dinner catered by the Ashton Depot in Casa Mañana's Grand Lobby, opportunity to participate in the live and Big Board auction, preferred seating for Short's performance, and admission to the after-party in the Grand Lobby with open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing to live music by The Wonders. Purchased Gala seats are partially tax-deductible. For more information on table packages, contact Whitney Weaks at (817) 321-5007.
Tickets to the performance only are $100 and can be purchased by calling the Casa Mañana Theatre box office at 817-332-2272, going to www.casamanana.org/gala or visiting the Casa Mañana Theatre box office at 3101 West Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, 76107. Performance-only tickets reserve a seat at Short's performance, offer the opportunity to participate in the Big Board auction and grant admission to the after-party.
The 2009 Laugh with a Legend Gala: An Evening with Martin Short is chaired by Jackie Harris. The Gala Committee includes Greta Beckerman, Barbara Boulware, Ralph Bradley, Anne Marie Bratton, Sharon Crockett, Jan Simus Curry, Joanie Darden, Kelly Decker, Lisa Fleet, Taylor Gandy, Kelly Greenwell, Glen Hahn, Janie Harper, Jeannene Hughes, Kip & Carri Hyde, Markus Kypreos, Sharon Pfaff, Pam Pigman, Martha Prioleau, Kelley Purvis, Molly Reid, Shannon Ricca, Judy Siratt, Melinda Watts Smith, Laura Sorokolit, Elizabeth Webb, Carol Wilkerson and Teresa Hubbard, who is also Chairman of Casa Mañana's Board of Directors.
The 2009 Laugh with a Legend Gala: An Evening with Martin Short benefits Casa Mañana's Arts Education and Outreach Program, which offers comprehensive theatre education through performances in the schools by The Casa Playaz, in the community with The Casa Kids, and at its theatre with productions in The Children's Theatre. Children also receive extensive theatre training at the Casa Mañana Performing Arts Conservatory and in public schools through the Adopt-a-School Program and Artist-in-Residence Program with the Fort Worth and Everman ISD's. The Betty Lynn Buckley Awards is a scholarship program that recognizes student achievement in the dramatic arts in Tarrant County. In addition, Casa Mañana offers Fort Worth ISD continuing education for public school teachers.
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