For the first time in years, Bucks County Playhouse’s annual benefit returns onsite to the Playhouse itself at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, with its 80th Anniversary Gala celebrating the unveiling of New Hope’s riverfront and saluting the angels responsible for revitalizing and restoring some of New Hope’s most iconic landmarks.
This year’s gala is the official reveal of the Playhouse River Promenade, the final stage of Bridge Street Foundation’s restoration of the historic theater.
The evening is highlighted by a special concert performance by Broadway and Hollywood star, Tony Danza, who is returning to Bucks County Playhouse for the first time since making his professional debut there onstage in the musical “1776” in 1973. Danza’s “Taxi” co-star, and a current Playhouse Artists’ board member, Marilu Henner, is host for the event.
The gala will honor the philanthropists working to restore New Hope’s riverfront: Ed and Lynn Breen and Tom and Patty Lynch for their vision unfolding at River House at Odette’s, and Kevin and Sherri Daugherty for their vision realized with the renovation of the Playhouse (through their Bridge Street Foundation) and just opened Ghost Light Inn, featuring its signature restaurant Stella by Jose Garces.
Bank of America’s Philadelphia Market President Jim Dever and his wife, Lynn Dever, a Bucks County pediatrician, serve as co-chairs of the gala.
“As residents of Bucks County, Lynn and I have experienced first-hand the impact the Playhouse’s reopening has had on the community. Through the efforts of these formidable entrepreneurs, the revitalization of New Hope’s waterfront continues to make our community even more desirable for visitors both near and far,” said Gala Co-Chair, Jim Dever. “Bank of America is also proud to support the Playhouse as the 2019 Season Sponsor.”
Marv Woodall, chair of the nonprofit Playhouse Artists, said this is a special year for the Playhouse. “We’re welcoming all those who celebrate the resurrection of the Playhouse to join us in making this the most successful fundraising event of our history.” Kim Gibbons serves as chair of Playhouse Artists’ special events committee.
The festivities will begin at Stella with cocktails and a moveable feast followed by Tony Danza, singing the Great American Songbook. Following the performance, the guests will spill out onto The Deck at the Playhouse for champagne, dessert and coffee with Bob Egan at the piano.
Proceeds from the gala support the nonprofit mission of Bucks County Playhouse, which includes its new musical development program, the Oscar Hammerstein Festival, and innovative education programs. This fall, the Playhouse’s education program will be working in Bucks County’s public-school classrooms on a new arts-based education program called “Bounce.”
Danza and his four-piece band will perform, “Tony Danza: Standards & Stories.” Combining timeless music with storytelling, and a dash of soft shoe and ukulele performances, Danza performs a selection of his favorite standards from the Great American Songbook while interweaving stories about his life and personal connection to the music.
Single tickets for the 80th Anniversary Gala range in price from $300 to $500. Table sponsorship packages range from $3,000 to $50,000.
Contact Scott Blacker, director of advancement at 267-740-2090 x107 or
scott@bcptheater.org. Tickets also are available at
BucksCountyPlayhouse.org.
