Press Release: Entertainment Tonight! 2018 Gala at Cotuit Center for the Arts

Entertainment Tonight! 2018, the premiere annual fundraiser for Cotuit Center for the Arts, will be held Tuesday, July 10, from 5:30 to 10:30 PM, at the Center. The Gala will feature live performances from the Center’s 2017/2018 theatrical season; a feast of heavy hors d’oeuvres, an open bar with signature cocktails, and dessert; sumptuous offerings in the Champagne and Oyster Lounge; a live and silent auctions; and dancing to rock ‘n’ roll beat of the Rip-It-Ups.

“Entertainment Tonight! is the party of the year—a thoroughly fun and entertaining fundraiser that helps us keep high-quality arts programming right here in our community,” said David Kuehn, executive director of the arts Center. “In addition to fabulous entertainment, food, and drink, we are again offering an Exclusive Raffle. The winner will receive a spectacular Italian Culinary Experience for Two in Bologna, Italy.”

The Bologna adventure includes five nights in the heart of the historical city known for its exquisite food. The prize includes a truffle hunt, a winery tour, a trip to the food market, and a full-day cooking class in the Tuscan countryside with dinner. Only 200 raffle tickets will be sold.

The Gala begins at 5:30 PM with the Silent Auction, where guests can bid on items donated by businesses and friends of the Center. There are over 60 Silent Auction items this year, including original artwork, sports memorabilia, Broadway tickets, and the original Low, Low, Low Gas sign that has been a Cotuit landmark for years. Bidding on the Silent Auction closes at 7:15 PM, when the theatrical productions begin on the main stage.

The Live Auction begins at 7:45 PM, and desserts and coffee will served at 8:15 PM, and, at 8:30 PM, the Rip-It-Ups take the stage for a lively evening of dancing.

A spirited Cape Cod band, the Rip It Ups play traditional rock ‘n’ roll with a generous infusion of blues, rockabilly, country jazz and soul. Fronted by vocalist Jodi Birchall, the band features Kami Lyle on trumpet, vocals, and percussion; Joey Spampinato on bass and vocals, Tad Price on lead and rhythm guitars and vocals; Paul Dinsmore on trumpet and vocals, and Gary Lock on rhythm and lead guitars and vocals.

General admission is $100 per person and includes admission to the Silent Auction, the Main Stage theatrical productions, participation in the Live Auction, food and drink, and dancing to the tunes of the Rip-It-Ups. Champagne and Oyster Lounge tickets are $125 and provide all of the above, plus admission to the Lounge, which features its own bar with plenty of wine and bubbly and a resplendent raw bar.

Exclusive VIP admission is $225 and adds premier reserved table seating at the front of the theatre with a dedicated wait staff. VIPs will be presented with an elegant platter of hors d'oeuvres and a bottle of wine at the table (one bottle of wine per couple with four guests per table.) VIP admission also features assigned VIP parking and being treated like a VIP by the wait staff while in the Lounge.

Cotuit Center for the Arts is an award-winning, dynamic arts and cultural center that provides free and paid programming throughout the year, including art exhibits, theatrical productions, musical events, educational programs, and numerous other events. The Center collaborates with Cape Cod artists, musicians, actors, teachers, and volunteers to provide a rich experience to over 30,000 attendees each year.

The Center’s ticket sales and other earned income, such as class tuitions, facility rentals, and concessions, generate less than half of the operating expenses of the Center. To make up the shortfall, the Center relies on donations and fundraising events, including the annual Gala.

For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.artsonthecape.org, or call 508-428-0669. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28 in Cotuit.

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What:

Entertainment Tonight! 2018

Where:

Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Route 28, Cotuit

When:

Tuesday, July 10, 5:30 to 10:30 PM

Admission:

General admission, $100; Oysters and Champagne Lounge Ticket, $125; and VIP admission, $225.