Arizona Broadway Theatre Hosts Sixth Annual Broadway Ball

On Saturday, March 2, the Arizona Broadway Theatre (ABT) community gathered to celebrate The Sixth Annual Broadway Ball, raising more than $135,000 to benefit the nonprofit theatre and its artistic, educational, and charitable programs. More than 250 guests turned out for the elegant event, co-chaired by Lisa Platt and Kristin Wurr.

The evening included a cocktail hour, three-course dinner, silent and live auctions, the Broadway Ball Wine Pull, and the popular Gift Card "Frenzy." >From the stage, Kiel and Cassandra Klaphake, ABT's co-founders and executive producers, spoke about the power of the performing arts and the importance of accessible artistic opportunities for community members of all ages.

Since 2005, ABT has been delivering professional musical theatre entertainment through its Broadway-style Mainstage productions. In addition, the theatre's programs for children encourage all arts-minded area youth to take advantage of artistic opportunities and experiences at ABT, regardless of their ability to pay. "Funding from community partners and individual donors allows Arizona Broadway Theatre to make all of our programs more accessible to community members while allowing ABT to maintain our very high standards of quality," said Mr. Klaphake. "This is what makes fundraising events like the Broadway Ball so important."

ABT's new teen performance troupe, HyRev, entertained the Broadway Ball audience with an emotional rendition of "You Will Be Found" from the Tony award-winning Broadway musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN. Live entertainment also featured a performance of "I've Got Rhythm" from the Mainstage production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS and a scene from ABT's Theatre for Young Audiences production of THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA.

Guests ended the night dancing to the music of AbbaFab, courtesy of event sponsor TAD Management. Other event sponsors included Arrowhead Cadillac, the Arizona Coyotes Foundation, TC Schuttler, Renew Dental, and Low Mountain Construction. Table sponsors included Blondie Wolfe & Associates, Home Instead Senior Care of Surprise, City of Peoria Mayor Pro Tem Vicki Hunt, Senior Support Solutions, Setterberg Jewelers, Sysco Arizona, West Valley Symphony, West Valley Women, and several individual sponsors.

Arizona Broadway Theatre, Arizona's leader in musical theatre and the Valley of the Sun's highest attended live theatrical venue, opened its doors in 2005 and has grown to be a nationally recognized producer of Musical Theatre - drawing top talent to the Valley of The Sun from New York City and from the vast pool of exceptional talent here in Arizona. Through its Mainstage shows, Theatre for Young Audiences, and Academy for Young Performers programs, as well as through special events and banquet bookings, ABT has seen more than 900 thousand patrons pass through its doors.

For more information about the Arizona Broadway Theatre or the Broadway Ball, please call the Arizona Broadway Theatre Development Office at 623.707.8842.

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