FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2012

Press Contact: Marilyn Langbehn
510.809.3290
510.910.3129 cell

California Shakespeare Theater to Throw One Great Party

At San Francisco’s Four Seasons on March 17, 2012

All Proceeds to benefit Cal Shakes’ Work Onstage, in Classrooms and Throughout Communities

Tickets available at 510.809.3291


BERKELEY, Calif. – California Shakespeare Theater today announced details for the company’s seventeenth annual fundraising bash, One Great Party, to be held Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 6pm at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. The evening, featuring honorary co-chairpersons Ann & Gordon Getty, The Hon. Nancy Pelosi and Mr. Paul Pelosi, Tony Award-winning actor Liev Schreiber, and Beach Blanket Babylon producer Jo Schuman Silver, will support Cal Shakes’ work on stage, in classrooms and throughout Bay Area communities.

“I am honored to have such distinguished honorary chairs and committee members from San Francisco and the East Bay supporting the work we do through our benefit gala,” says Cal Shakes Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone, now celebrating his 12th season. “It really is one great party, and it goes a long way in helping us fulfill our mission of making it possible for everyone, regardless of age, circumstance, and background, to discover the relevance of Shakespeare and the classics in their lives.”

One Great Party will begin with a silent auction and cocktail reception featuring a vodka bar by Stockholm Krystal, followed by an elegant dinner, live auction with auctioneer extraordinaire Greg Quiroga; and post-auction dancing.

Some of the spectacular auction items include the chance to tool around in a Maserati during a weekend of unparalleled elegance at the Meadowood Resort; luxury accommodations at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, one of the country’s top golf destination; exclusive getaways to a private, historic estate in Umbria, Italy or a scenic, spacious condo in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; spend the weekend in the newly restored—and never-before-available to the public—San Francisco apartment of hardboiled legend Dashiell Hammett; go behind the scenes and play games at Redwood City’s EA Games—makers of Rock Band, The Sims, Mass Effect 2, Madden NFL, and scores more; a private tour of Mark Twain’s papers in the UC Berkeley vault including letters, manuscripts, scrapbooks, first editions, and other rare printings and photographs; dinner with the great minds behind the top Bay Area theater companies: Jonathan Moscone of Cal Shakes, Carey Perloff of A.C.T., and Tony Taccone of Berkeley Rep at the world-renowned Chez Panisse Restaurant; a fully-staffed backyard movie party with 21-foot high inflatable screen, supersonic sound, and crystal-clear projection; and dress in white and picnic alfresco at the mysterious Dinner en Blanc, whose location will be revealed 48 hours in advance; to name a few.

Honorary committee members for One Great Party include Wilkes Bashford, The Hon. Willie L. Brown Jr., Jeannette Etheredge, Stanlee Gatti, Dan Henkle & Steve Kawa, Karin & PJ Johnston, Helen & John Meyer, Nicola Miner & Robert Mailer Anderson, Mrs. George R. Moscone, Peter Read, Yvonne & Angelo Sangiacomo, Carole Shorenstein Hays & Dr. Jeffrey P. Hays, The Hon. George P. Shultz & Charlotte Shultz, Sharon & Barclay Simpson, Tony Taccone, Francesca Vietor, and Diane B. Wilsey.

Distinguished Corporate Partners include Blueprint Studios, CSC, City National Bank, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP, John Muir Health, Mechanics Bank, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Safeway, San Francisco Magazine, Simpson Strong-Tie, and Stockholm Krystal Vodka.

Cal Shakes’ Gala is at the core of the company’s annual fundraising campaigns and over the years has garnered more than $3.8 million in support of the Theater’s artistic and education programming. The 2012 season begins May 30 with Shakespeare’s The Tempest, directed by Jonathan Moscone.

One Great Party tickets are now on sale and begin at $350. To order tickets call 510.809.3291 or visit www.calshakes.org/gala.

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ATTENTION CALENDAR EDITORS:

WHO: Supporters of the arts

WHAT: Cal Shakes’ 17th annual gala fundraiser, One Great Party

WHEN: March 17, 2012, 6pm

WHERE: Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market Street, San Francisco
HOW MUCH: Starting at $350
INFO: , 510.809.3291, or calshakes.org/gala

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California Shakespeare Theater 2012 gala
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