Aurora Theatre Company's 'Aurora Borealis' Benefit Raises $172,000

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company, now celebrating its 19th season, lit up the night on Monday, May 2 with an evening of heavenly wining and dining at Aurora Borealis, the company's 13th annual benefit, held at the historic Hotel Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley. Over 200 guests attended the sold-out fundraising fête honoring former Board presidents Alison Teeman (Berkeley) and Carolyn Weinberger (Berkeley); chaired by Deborah Goodman (Berkeley), the event raised upwards of $172,000. Funds raised at Aurora Borealis will support Aurora Theatre Company's outstanding live performances, innovative education program, and the Global Age Project new works program. Individual tickets to the invitation only event sold for $250, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from $1,500-10,000 per table.

Before dining on a delectable three course meal featuring flat iron steak and roasted salmon prepared by renowned chef Banks White and wine courtesy of Hafner Vineyard, guests bid on over 50 silent auction offerings, including: tickets to productions at several of the Bay Area's leading arts organizations; tickets to a concert and a private backstage tour at the San Francisco Symphony; a behind-the-scenes tour and lunch at Pixar Studios with producer John Walker; a private tour of the Picasso exhibit at the De Young museum; Dinner with Les Waters, acclaimed Associate Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre; and VIP home game tickets to see the World Champion San Francisco Giants in action at AT&T Park. Additionally, Aurora Theatre Company hosted an online auction for the first time this year, where guests were able to bid on select items up for auction before the gala event.

Berkeley VIPs in attendance at Aurora Borealis included: Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, composer Paul Dresher and Dr. Philippa Kelly, dramaturg at California Shakespeare Theater, Helen and John Meyer of Meyer Sound, John Karnay, CFO, Grubb Co., Lois De Domenico, creator of Rice-a-Roni and noted philanthropist, acclaimed artist Tom Holland, and Berkeley Councilmember Gordon Wozniak.

Aurora artists in attendance included Tim Kniffin, Margo Hall, Beth Wilmurt, Mark Jackson, Pamela Gaye Walker, and Joy Carlin; actress Leanne Borghesi, who is currently appearing in Aurora Theatre Company's production of Tennessee Williams' The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, was the silent and live auction announcer for the evening. Also present were former San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Muriel Maffre, who will co-direct and appear in next season's production of THE SOLDIER'S TALE, as was our Aurora Theatre Company founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver and translator Margret Schaefer, both of whom are working on next season's production of ANATOL. Aurora Managing Director Julie Saltzman gave out the Volunteer of the Year Award to Ginger Casey and Artistic Director Tom Ross introduced the numerous Aurora artists present at the event.

The evening concluded with a spirited live auction of exclusive items led by auctioneer Grant Snyder. Jacquelin and Sheafe Ewing (Walnut Creek) will have the opportunity to ogle entertainment legend Rita Moreno's Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Oscar awards when they enjoy a once in a lifetime dinner with the living legend in her Bay Area home, catered by Grace Street Catering. The Ewings were also the winning bidders on an exclusive package that includes copies of a limited edition handcrafted Arion Press book of renowned American playwright Edward Albee's script for A DELICATE BALANCE, which will open Aurora Theatre Company's 20th anniversary season in September; the package also includes a tour of Arion Press, a garden lunch with Arion owner/publisher Andrew Hoyem, an invitation to the official book release party, and four tickets to Aurora's opening night performance of A DELICATE BALANCE.

Lois De Domenico (Piedmont) and Carol and Joe Neil (Berkeley) will share a private tea party with political personality, professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, hosted by renowned Bay Area actress and director Joy Carlin. Wendy and Mason Willrich (Piedmont) will enjoy an enchanting holiday stay in New York City, complete with tickets to a bevy of Broadway shows. Kathy Pickup (Oakland) and Lisa and James Taylor (Berkeley) will each, along with seven of their closest friends, become stars in their very own Aurora production in staged readings cast and directed by Aurora Artistic Director Tom Ross; each of the readings will be performed at the Aurora Theatre in front of private audiences. Selman Larson and Arthur Weil (Piedmont), Mayhill Fowler (Berkeley), Alison Teeman and Michael Yovino-Young (Berkeley), and Gail and Bob Hetler (Berkeley) will share a soiree featuring a private cabaret performance with San Francisco's "First Couple of Cabaret," Meg Mackay and Billy Philadelphia, hosted by Susan and Paul Sugarman.

Additional big-ticket items included dinner with popular new media political writer Mayhill Fowler, which went to Lois De Domenico (Piedmont). Hilary and Jonathan Reinis (Berkeley) will enjoy a luxurious seven-day Holland America Line cruise. Jacquelin and Sheafe Ewing will hop the Pond and enjoy a week of Royal watching and cultural hot spots in London, while Bebe and Colin McRae (Berkeley) will share a sumptuous Marin oyster feast Stateside. The Fund A Need campaign capped off the evening's festivities, raising $47,455; high-level donors to Fund a Need will receive an invitation to a private party at the home of Pixar producer John Walker and his wife, actress Pamela Gaye Walker (Berkeley).

Aurora Borealis committee members included: Vicki Elnick (Walnut Creek), Jacquelin Ewing (Walnut Creek), Deborah Goodman (chair, Berkeley), Ellen Levine (Oakland), Wendy Markel (Berkeley), Darra Messing (San Francisco), Hillary Reinis (Berkeley), and Lisa Taylor (Berkeley). A host committee of Berkeley community leaders included: Mayor Tom Bates, Senator Loni Hancock, Helen and John Meyer, Pamela and John Walker, and Lois De Domenico.
Nominated for 15 and winner of 8 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards for 2010, Aurora Theatre Company continues to offer challenging, literate, intelligent stage works to the Bay Area, each year increasing its reputation for top-notch theater. Located in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District, Aurora Theatre Company has been called "one of the most important regional theaters in the area" and "a must-see midsize company" by the San Francisco Chronicle, while The Wall Street Journal has "nothing but praise for the Aurora." The Contra Costa Times stated "perfection is probably an unattainable ideal in a medium as fluid as live performance, but the Aurora Theatre comes luminously close," while the San Jose Mercury News affirmed "[Aurora Theatre Company] lives up to its reputation as a theater that feeds the mind," and the Oakland Tribune declared "it's all about choices, and if you value good theater, choose the Aurora."
Aurora Theatre Company continues its 19th season with Tennessee Williams' THE ECCENTRICITES OF A NIGHTINGALE, playing now through May 8, followed by the first American professional production of British director David Farr and Icelandic actor-director Gísli Örn Gardarsson's thrilling avant garde adaptation of Franz Kafka's METAMORPHOSIS, directed by Mark Jackson in June. Following METAMORPHOSIS, Aurora Theatre Company opens its 20th anniversary season in September with Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning A DELICATE BALANCE, featuring an extraordinary ensemble of acting luminaries from Aurora's past and present, and directed by Aurora Artistic Director Tom Ross. Aurora Theatre Company is also poised to present an innovative collaboration with former San Francisco Ballet dancer Muriel Maffre in November with a re-imagined production of THE SOLDIER'S TALE, followed by the Bay Area Premiere of Obie-winning playwright Annie Baker's BODY AWARENESS in January, directed by Joy Carlin. Founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver returns to the company to helm Margret Schaefer's Aurora-commissioned World Premiere translation of Arthur Schnitzler's fin-de-siècle gem ANATOL in April. The 20th anniversary season concludes in June with Aurora Theatre Company's World Premiere play commission, SALOMANIA, written and directed by Bay Area auteur Mark Jackson.

For subscriptions, tickets, and more information about Aurora Theatre Company productions, the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

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