Every day, but especially at this season of Thanksgiving, the Friends of The Audi are grateful to our community for its gifts of time, talent, and treasure, so generously offered for the general good. We welcomed the 2018-19 season – and the Audi’s 114 th year – at the 28th annual GALA, a free family-friendly celebration underwritten by Charter Trust Company – Rich Woodfin – and the Walker Lecture Fund – Trustees Paula Demers, Allwynne Fine, Dale Harrington, and Joanne Martin. Thanks for their support spread in waves through the city.
The GALA troupe included 130 neighbors performing previews of upcoming shows by the Strathspey & Reel Society, Concord Coachmen Barbershop Chorus, Dancesteps Etc., Children’s Theatre Project, Turning Pointe Center of Dance, Gen’s Dance Studio, Community Players of Concord, Eastern Ballet Institute, AMIT Productions, Concord Dance Academy, Miss Capital Area Scholarship Program, Concord Community Concerts, Jean’s Playhouse of Lincoln, McKenna Dance Center, Rhythm of the Night, and the Walker Lecture Series. We thank them all for introducing this exciting new season when the Audi will welcome the public to more than 100 events, affordable and accessible to all!
We are especially thankful to the GALA’s leadership team: Producer David Murdo, Director Kevin Belval and his technical crew, and to Eric Skoglund, the delightful Emcee who kept the program rolling. Imagine: 130 performers in 18 acts run without a rehearsal! Thanks to the Abbot-Downing Historical Society for bringing their new Concord Coach – our historical stagecoach – to the city’s historical stage, and letting everyone climb on board for photos. Special thanks to Tom and Tootie Arnold of Arnie’s Place who served a thousand scoops of fall favorite ice cream.
An annual GALA feature, the $3,000 raffle of 10 mugs filled with show tickets and restaurant certificates, drew its annual excitement thanks to Barous Family Restaurant, CC Tomatoes, Common Man, Hermanos, Margaritas, O Steak & Seafood, and The 99. The raffle proceeds all go toward the Friends’ current upgrade project: new stage curtains. We are grateful to the UPS Store and to Gibson’s Book Store for serving as ticket outlets for the GALA and many Audi shows. The arts thrive in Concord through the support of our local merchants and businesses, and we urge the community to cherish and thank them all by supporting and patronizing them.
Very best holiday wishes to all from the very grateful Friends of The Audi.
Friends of the Audi
Concord