On Wednesday, May 3, Encore Stage & Studio celebrated the start of our 50th anniversary with its Annual Benefit Breakfast at the Washington Golf and Country Club.
“Welcome to the 2017 Encore Stage & Studio Sunny Side Up Benefit Breakfast auditions!” As the theme for the breakfast was a show audition, benefit breakfast MC and Encore student participant Xander Tilock greeted the guests, “Thank you for coming to audition for Encore. We are so glad you chose to come out and audition for a group whose motto is “theater by kids, for kids. Before we get started with the auditions, I wanted to tell you a little bit about the theater company that you are auditioning for…”
Since founded in 1967, Encore Stage & Studio has produced 210 shows, and almost 300,000 patrons have attended Encore’s productions. Encore Stage & Studio will produce 10 shows this year.
Throughout the breakfast, guests enjoyed performances by Encore’s Musical Theatre Intensive students including “Day by Day” and “All for the Best” from Godspell. Students including Zoe Rocchio and Xander Tilock shared their involvement and the impact of Encore in their lives. “For my path in life, I am one of those kids who was born with dreams of performing. I started dancing in preschool, often imagining what it would be like to be a Princess on a stage,” Zoe shared. “I found my love of musical theater in an elementary school play and assumed I would participate in musical theater through school and into the future. Encore prepared me for the future I imagined when I was little. And, because of Encore, I was able to be a Bear, a Dragon, a Mouse and a Duck. I have also been a Lady-in-Waiting, a Realtor, Snow White, a Fairy Godmother and even a Princess. I am truly grateful.”
Executive Director, Sara Duke presented the 2017 Celeste Groves Award to Dana Schindler for outstanding volunteer. The Board of Directors established the Celeste Groves in 2008 in honor of Encore’s long-time Executive Producer Celeste Groves, whose “celestial” record of 30 plus years volunteering for our organization gives us all a high standard to live up to.
50th anniversary chairman, Katie Boone announced the upcoming events to celebrate Encore’s golden year including the 2017/2018 Season Reveal Ice Cream Social on June 4, 2017, the Bus Trip to Broadway on September 23, 2017,the Costume Caper 5K in the fall and more. Click here to read the full list of events.
Lastly, Board of Directors Co-president Karol Boudreaux and former president Jerry Gidner announced the launch of The Theatre for All! Fund. Our goal is to raise $250,000 to help us continue to support our spectacular programs and share them with all children in our community. The Theatre for All! Fund is an opportunity for both new and loyal supporters of the arts to make a substantial impact on our organization. Kicking off the campaign, Jerry announced his $25,000 pledge and presented with a “check” for $81,500, the total amount of pledges received so far.
To end the morning, Encore students performed a fun parody, “My Name is Encore Stage & Studio.” Encore raised $17,000 in donations from the breakfast and has reached over $83,000 in pledges towards The Theatre for All! Fund. We’re excited to celebrate Encore’s 50th birthday year-round with our community and beyond! There’s truly something for everyone–“just you wait.”
Missed the breakfast? There is still time to donate. Click here make your donation online.
Photos by Aileen Pangan