Theatre Bay Area to Host Blushing Orchid Ball, Tonys Live Stream on 6/8

Theatre Bay Area, a non-profit organization founded in 1976 with a mission to unite, strengthen and promote the theatre community in the San Francisco Bay Area, will hold the Blushing Orchid Ball this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Embarcadero. The fundraiser will feature a livestream of the Tony Awards, starting at 5:00 p.m., making this the only West Coast location for seeing the Tonys real-time.

"It's a great chance to celebrate the Tony Awards with other theatre fans, enjoy a costume ball and silent auction-all to support our own local theatre community," said Brad Erickson, executive director for Theatre Bay Area (TBA). "Special guest celebrities joining us at this year's event are Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Bointano, Star of Phantom of The Opera Frank D'Ambrosio and previous Tony nominees Sharon McNight and Lee Roy Reams."

In addition to airing the Tonys, the event will include dancing, signature cocktails, snacks and a silent auction. Dress for the fundraiser is formal, but blush colored and costume wear is encouraged. Tickets can be purchased online at TBA's website http://www.theatrebayarea.org/?page=BlushingOrchidBall. Half price tickets that do not include drink tokens are available for purchase in person at the ticket office on Union Square at 350 Powell St. (http://www.tixbayarea.org) or through Goldstar.

Ticket packages are:

• General Admission ticket for $60 includes event festivities and one drink token.
• VIP ticket for $220 include express check-in and check-out in addition to access of the VIP lounge, banquette station and TVs for viewing the Tonys and two drink tokens.
• Virtual Table ticket for $400 includes eight general admission tickets and added benefits like coming with your group, group discount and recognition on screens and in the evening's program.
• VIP Virtual Table ticket for $1,600 which includes eight VIP tickets and virtual table benefits: come with your group, group discount and recognition from the stage.

The San Francisco Bay Area is the third largest theatre center in the country, with over 400 companies in nine counties. The region boasts more theatre companies per capita than almost any other metropolitan area in the US, and is home to the third largest community of Equity (union) actors, following New York City and Chicago. Some 200 new plays are premiered here each year, many going on to wider success.