Grand Opening Gala for The Berman Held 5/23, Patti LuPone Headlines

The Grand Opening Gala for The Berman Center for the Performing Arts will be held on Monday, May 23, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., to benefit The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit (JCC). The event will be held at the all-new $6.7 million entertainment venue, which is part of the West Bloomfield campus of the JCC, located at 6600 Maple Road, in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Headlining this very special evening will be Broadway star Patti LuPone with Maestro Leonard Slatkin conducting the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra. A limited number of tickets, priced at $200 each, are still available to the public for purchase by phone at (248) 432-5420.

"The Berman Center for the Performing Arts will enhance our exciting, nationally prominent JCC Festivals and create opportunities for countless new programs and classes for all ages reaching out to both the Jewish and general communities," said Mark A. Lit, JCC executive director. "With the venue's unlimited potential, we plan to bring a multitude of genres and performers - both local and national - to include major singers, regional acting companies, dance companies, live video broadcasts, a children's performing arts series and more."

About The Berman
The Berman is a 15,000 square-foot entertainment venue with permanent seating for 350, and can expand to accommodate up to 600 people utilizing adjacent multi-use space. While a number of JCCs in the United States include theaters, The Berman Center for the Performing Arts is the largest and most technically advanced in the country.

Contemporary yet elegantly appointed, The Berman is equipped with high-tech lighting and sound technology. It also features a special sound system for hearing impaired patrons, and has a sophisticated fly system which allows technical crews to easily and safely move lights, props and scenery. Additionally, there is a full backstage area with dressing rooms, a green room, offices and storage space.

Of special historic note is the spectacular crystal chandelier gracing The Berman's foyer - it once hung in Detroit's upscale Bonwit Teller department store.

Designed by Neumann/Smith Architecture, of Southfield, and built by Sachse Construction and Development Company, of Birmingham, The Berman broke ground in September 2010 and completed construction in just nine months.

"While it only took nine months to build, it was a 40-year dream in the making and the timing of The Berman's gala grand opening could not be better for our local economy," said Mark Davidoff, JCC board chairman. "The Berman Center represents a significant investment in Oakland County, as well as Southeastern Michigan, that will benefit many other community businesses and residents."

Construction of The Berman Center for the Performing Arts was funded entirely with private donations, inspired by a generous gift from Bill and Madeleine Berman with a permanent endowment.

"We are so very grateful to the Bermans for their longtime support, their vision for the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, and their community leadership," said Davidoff. "The JCC already has one of the finest cultural and performing arts programs in the country and The Berman Center will allow us to realize so many more possibilities."

To supplement special gifts received to date , the JCC is selling 350 commemorative seats to raise additional funds; seats in the first five rows are $5,000 each, and the remaining seats are $1,800 each. Permanent plaques, bearing the purchaser's names or words to mark an occasion, can be affixed to each seat. For more information about purchasing seats, contact Wendy Strip at (248) 432-5420.

In addition to showcasing a variety of performing arts events, The Berman will be utilized for programs hosted by the general Jewish community and secular organizations. The Jewish Ensemble Theater and the Frankel Jewish Academy will also present some shows in The Berman.

About The Grand Opening Gala
The Grand Opening Gala of the Berman Center for the Performing Arts will honor Madeleine and Mandell Berman on Monday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a live performance by Broadway legend Patti LuPone, the 2008 recipient of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Rose in "Gypsy." Preceding Ms. LuPone will be the incomparable Maestro Leonard Slatkin conducting the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra. A dessert and champagne afterglow will follow the performance. Dress for the event is cocktail attire.

"The Grand Opening Gala for The Berman will be a spectacular evening to celebrate a wonderful and new world-class facility to foster the performing arts in metropolitan Detroit," said gala co-chairs Lauren and Phillip Fisher.

"The Berman is also a very significant addition to the cultural scene of our Jewish community, and it will truly be the star of the show at The Grand Opening Gala," added gala co-chairs Lynda and Conrad Giles.

Tickets to The Grand Opening Gala for the Berman Center of the Performing Arts are $200 per person and a limited number are still available for public purchase. Proceeds will benefit the JCC and a portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, call (248) 432-5420.

Sponsorship and tribute opportunities are also still available, and offer additional benefits. Contact Wendy Strip at (248) 432-5420 or wstrip@jccdet.org for information.

About the Jewish Community Center
The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit (JCC) is a social, cultural, educational and recreational facility dedicated to the health and well being of the entire community. It is the largest Jewish community center in the United States with campuses in West Bloomfield and Oak Park, Michigan. For additional information about the JCC, please visit www.jccdet.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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