JPAS 16th Annual Pasta & Puccini Gala Sells Out

JPAS 16th Annual Pasta & Puccini Gala to be held NOVEMBER 9 at InterContinental New Orleans has sold out. 

Proceeds benefit the JPAS Theatrical Endeavors and Arts Outreach throughout the 34TH Season
Generously presented by SAMMY L. STEELE, III AND THE DR. DONALD AND JJ DOOLEY FUND
Also sponsored by InterContinental New Orleans and supported by At&T Real Yellow Pages, Gibbs Construction, Lexus of New Orleans

The highlight of the cultural season returns! Jefferson Performing Arts Society's (JPAS) 16th Annual Pasta & Puccini Gala will be held Friday, November 9, 2011 at InterContinental New Orleans, 444 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. Doors will open at 6:30PM. JPAS is thrilled to announce that this extremely popular event has been SOLD OUT since August! 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 live and silent auctions and live entertainment by performers from JPAS' NIGHT OF OPERA AND BROADWAY including Broadway's "Phantom of the Opera" Brad Little, Broadway Star Leslie Castay and international opera star JUAN CARLOS VALLS with NANCY ROSS, ARIEL ASSAF, GREGORY GERBRANDT, MICAH DESONIER and JENNIFER DELATTE with the JPAS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dennis G. Assaf.

It will be an enchanted evening featuring the romantic opera classics of Giacomo Puccini and Broadway show-stoppers from JPAS' A NIGHT OF OPERA AND BROADWAY performed by acclaimed vocalists including JUAN CARLOS VALLS and NANCY ROSS. Gala patrons will also enjoy performances by Broadway and Internationally recognized Brad Little, who among his many roles on Broadway and throughout the world include over 2000 performances as The Phantom in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Broadway and on US and International Tours. The performers will be accompanied by the JPAS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Dennis G. Assaf, JPAS Executive/Artistic Director.

Jefferson Parish President John Young will serve as a celebrity auctioneer for live auctions throughout the evening. Auction items include beautiful jewelry pieces from the finest local jewelers, artwork and travel. The silent auction will feature hundreds of gift items including hotel and dinner packages, jewelry and more! For your culinary appetite, there's a dinner buffet provided by thirty of the area's finest restaurants and caterers and libations include a Champagne bar sponsored by Lexus of New Orleans.

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 & Mytris Nims Foundation along with devoted sponsors Sibyl White and JPAS Co-Founder and Chairman Hannah J. Cunningham. The Jefferson Performing Arts Society is proud to once again partner with InterContinental New Orleans for a third year with hosting the annual Pasta & Puccini Fund-Raising 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 once again extend throughout all the ballrooms on the third floor of this world-class hotel.

(Pictured: "Prince Calaf" SAMMY L. STEELE, III)

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.

Jefferson Performing Arts Society is grateful for the support of the members of the 2011 Pasta & Puccini Committee. The 2011 Gala is chaired by Wayne Nocito and Karen Villavaso, with President John Young, Shelli Ali, Susie Baker, Kellie Barnes, Howard Bennett, Anita Brite, Melinda Bourgeois, Dianne Breaux, Sid Bullard, Margie Carmadelle, Ginger Crawford, Brenda Chetta, Alice & Emile Cloutet, Madeline Cox, Hannah Cunningham, Dianne Drouant, Jackie Elliott, Carrel Epling, Gloria Esthus, Mike Falati, Beth Goddard, Bonnie Gourgues, Elaine Grundmeyer, Josephine Haas, Sharon Hannahan, Glenn Hayes,Nancy Keylon, Irene Klinger, Sharon Kochera, Margie Mielke, Jane Miller, M.D., Earl Moran, ESQ, Gloria Parrish, Faith Peperone, Patricia Persaud, Gail Petrie, Debbie Rouen, ESQ, Janet Schwarz, Dianne F. Sclafani, Joy Shane, Sylvia Stripling, Nora Vaden Holmes, Gayle Viles, Margaret Wagner.

More about the featured performers:

JPAS is thrilled to have Brad Little in this NIGHT OF OPERA AND BROADWAY. Little has performed over 2000 performances as the most famous character in musical theatre history, the Phantom in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. He has played the role on Broadway, in New York; and in The US National and Asian Tours. His other Broadway and US National tour credits include: CYRANO, THE MUSICAL; FIDDLER ON THE ROOF; and ANYTHING GOES. Brad won international acclaim not only for his portrayal of Phantom in Asia, but also for his rendition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the South Korean production of JEKYLL AND HYDE. He starred in the hit European Tours of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR as Jesus and in WESTSIDE STORY as Tony.

JPAS is also excited to have the phenomenal and lovely Leslie Castay as a part of this cast. Leslie Castay is a seasoned Broadway veteran now happily lives and works here in New Orleans. On Broadway she appeared in 42ND STREET, 3PENNY OPERA (starring Sting), GUYS AND DOLLS (as Sarah Brown), and as Babette in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. National Tours: ANNIE (Grace Farrell), CATS (Jellylorum/Griddlebone), and the first National of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (again as Babette). Off-Broadway: MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (York Theatre), DO RE ME (Starring Nathan Lane, City Center Encores), PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (Lambs Theatre), LUST (John Houseman), Esmeralda in HUNCHBACK (Westbeth) and soloist at Carnegie Hall with the NY Pops. Leslie recently made her cabaret debut in her acclaimed one woman show, Leslie Castay...UNSCRIPTED at Le Chat Noir. New Orleans theatre includes MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (also directed) at Le Chat, CLEAN HOUSE (Southern Rep), CHICAGO, COMPANY (TSLT), STEEL MAGNOLIAS, ALL SHOOK UP Forbidden Broadway and GREY GARDENS (Big Easy award winner for Best Actress) at Le Petit.

JPAS is pleased to welcome back JUAN CARLOS VALLS to the JPAS stage. Valls made his U.S. debut in the 2010 JPAS Production of LA BOHEME. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Valls has performed around the world from Uruguay to Italy, to London, Bogotá (Colombia), Lima (Peru), Quito (Ecuador), Switzerland, Poland, Puerto Rico and beyond. His most recent engagements include: the role of Alfredo Germont in LA TRAVIATA (G. Verdi) at Teatro Nuovo in Salsomaggiore (Firenze), Teatro G. Magnani (Firenze) and Teatro Comunale di Carpi (Modena) - all in Italy. He sang PURITANI in Bern, Switzerland under the baton of Maestro Alberto Zedda, at the Thessaloniki Opera House in Greece and at the Verdi Theatre of Trieste, Italy.

More About the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS)
Founded in 1978 by Dennis G. Assaf and Hannah Cunningham, 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.

JPAS focuses on three main elements:
PERFORMANCE JPAS annually provides a wide range of theatrical performances that appeal to many interests and age groups. Most seasons include a selection of grand opera, musical theater, dance and music. JPAS strives to network and partner with national and International Artists and companies to bring new and diverse programming to the Southern Region.

TRAINING JPAS provides performance and technical based training in the arts for all ages with a particular focus on young people.

OUTREACH JPAS provides arts education programming in local area schools, as well as access to professional theatrical experiences that align to classroom curricula and Louisiana Content Standards, including Arts Adventure Series, Cultural Crossroads and Stage Without A Theatre. JPAS provides performers, musicians, artistic experiences and expertise to select area events and organizations to enrich the community.

www.jpas.org

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