The lights were bright on Broadway on Monday night
and the curtains raised at the Hudson Theater. With
Marvin Hamlisch
headlining the
Broadway Salutes…Arts Horizons 30th
Anniversary Gala, there was good reason
for such fanfare. In the 30 year history of
bringing arts education programs to over
7 million
public school children in the tri-state area,
October 27th marked
Arts Horizons
first-ever benefit gala.
The organization’s founder, John Devol,
once played trumpet in the pit orchestra of
A Chorus Line.
And it couldn’t have been more fitting that the
“singularly sensational” Mr. Hamlisch was honored
with the “Paul Newman Artist of the Year Award” for
his lifetime contribution to music and the Broadway
Theatre. The evening was jam-packed with
spectacular performances ranging from African drums
and Brazilian Dance to Classical opera. But it was
Marvin’s performance that stole the show! Broadway
greats Karen
Ziemba and
J. Mark McVey
sang along to Mr. Hamlisch’s piano accompaniment,
bringing the crowd to its feet in applause. When the
stage wasn’t alive with music or dance, master of
ceremonies,
Charles Grodin, had the attendees doubled
over in laughter throughout the entire evening.
Another highlight was when Larry King called in to
deliver a live message of Congratulations to Arts
Horizons and the evening’s honorees. The gala’s
other honorees included media guru and CEO of
Primetime Omnimedia,
L. Marilyn Crawford and Commerce Bank
executive Peter
Meyer. Entertainment executive,
Suzanne de Passe
made a heartfelt speech and presented the “Celeste
Holm Woman of the Year Award” to her dear friend L.
Marilyn Crawford. Renowned
journalist Rita
Cosby presented Peter Meyer with his
well-earned “LeRoy Neiman Humanitarian of the Year
Award” for his philanthropic work. From the
glittering top-hats adorning the centerpieces and
the beautiful theatrical venue to the incredible
performances, the
Broadway Salutes…
Arts Horizons 30th Anniversary Gala
was a one-night only engagement
to remember.
www.artshorizon.org