“Spotlight Gala” Celebrates the Arts

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts will kick off ArtsFest 2018 with a festive fundraiser at Wykagyl Country Club on Thursday, October 18th at 6:30 pm. The theme, SPOTLIGHT GALA, shines a light on New Rochelle’s role in the arts while celebrating New Rochelle residents who have made significant contributions to the arts through their professional and philanthropic lives. They include:

SPOTLIGHT ON THE PERFORMING ARTS: Ted Sperling, Tony Award-Winning Musical Director, Conductor, Stage Director and Musician (Light in the Piazza; South Pacific, My Fair Lady and many more)

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS: Jerrold G. Bermingham, Executive Vice President, National Realty & Development Corp., WatermarkPointe Developer

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS ADVOCACY: Lynn Honeysett, Past Executive Director, Pelham Arts Center

SPOTLIGHT ON PHILANTHROPY: The Kathwari Family

SPOTLIGHT ON LIFETIME LEGACY Diane Flagello and Laura Falb, NRCA Founding and Sustaining Board Members

The evening will be emceed by TV and screen actor Chance Kelly (American Sniper, Generation Kill, Aquarius, House of Cards) and will feature a cocktail hour “piano bar”, a special performance by rising star Jordan Cole (currently appearing on Broadway in School of Rock) as well as cocktails, a buffet dinner, a silent auction and dancing to DJ Ryan Vandal.

NRCA’s SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS Committee is being chaired by Lynn Green. “We’re really excited to kick off ArtsFest with such a fabulous evening,” says Green, who is also Vice President of NRCA. “It’s fantastic to be able to draw on such an incredible pool of talent, and we are delighted to be honoring a group of New Rochelle residents who have really made a difference in the arts.”

ArtsFest will take place October 19th through 21st with a variety of art exhibits, programs and family-friendly activities at more than 30 venues in New Rochelle and Pelham that give both visitors and residents alike a window into the city’s rich cultural and artistic diversity. The celebration will include live music, great food, exciting performances, and eclectic shopping as well as the popular “Culture Trolley,” and most events are free.

NRCA’s SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS steering committee members include Maddali Attallah, Kathy Biehl, Margaret Chadwick, Justin Christopher, Mariana Coelho Adams, Erika Cohen, Kerri Elliott, Selena Evans, Danielle and Andrew Feigenbaum, Beth Feldman, Lynn Honeysett, Juliana Leghorn, Theresa Kump Leghorn and Tom Leghorn, David Patterson, Melissa Panszi Riebe, Karen Selman, Loretta Staufenberg, Angela Derecas Taylor, Stephanie and Joe Tomei.

Sponsors for the benefit include ArtsWestchester, Charles Fazzino, The Kathwari Family, Watermark Pointe, Montefiore New Rochelle, New Rochelle Radiology, RXR, Lynn and Steven Green, Theresa Kump Leghorn and Thomas Leghorn, Philippa Wahrton Productions, Hon. Noam Bramson and Catie Stern, Millie and Danny Ilich, READ650 and Stephanie and Joe Tomei.

Tickets are priced at $150, or $75 for those aged 35 and under. To purchase tickets, or for more information about the Gala, or to become a Sponsor, please contact NRCA at info@newrochellearts.org.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts was created by the New Rochelle City Council in 1975 to stimulate and encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts; for 40 years NRCA has worked to fulfill that mission by sponsoring art exhibitions, theatrical productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, and concert series. In addition, NRCA has sponsored public art – like the new Pop-Up Libraries -- and created ArtsFest, while helping to build relationships between the arts, the business community and city government. The NRCA website www.newrochellearts.org has become major resource for artists and art lovers – the “go-to” place for information about the arts. Membership in NRCA is open to artists and non-artists alike, with members receiving special discounts and invitations to networking events and studio tours. For more information visit NRCA on the web at www.newrochellearts.org.

NRCA’s programs are made possible, in part, by ArtsWestchester with funds from Westchester County Government, the City of New Rochelle, and the support and participation of NRCA’s membership.