Lisa Green reports from Hyde Park. The gala benefit for the Half Moon Theatre at The Culinary Institute of America radiated nothing but star quality on Saturday, Sept. 26. You had the Hudson Valley-based professional theater company supported by spirited businesses and individuals, the stellar spread of hors d’oeuvres prepared by CIA chefs, and of course the shining performance by the effervescent Sutton Foster, toast of Broadway and now TV. Before Foster came on stage, members of the theater company sang their thanks to primary sponsors in parody lyrics that were as clever — and performed as deftly — as anything you’d see on 42nd Street. After they and Foster wowed the crowd, guests retreated to the dining area of the Marriott Pavilion to dig into the dessert tables, meet the evening’s entertainers and find out who won the silent auction items, one of which was lunch for two with Sarah Jessica Parker (opening bid: $5,000). Above, board members Ann Gifford and Amy Olson, who is also a member of the company. Read RI’s related story on the Half Moon Theatre and CIA subscription series.
> Dan Katz, whose wife is executive director of Half Moon Theatre, and Diane Schnoor, public relations assistant; Dad and daughter: Elton Renfroe with Executive Director Molly Renfroe Katz.
Heidi Desiena and Kristin Slifstein enjoy cocktails prior to the show.
Star bright: Sutton Foster at the post-concert reception; Lydia Higginson, deputy director of Dutchess County Tourism and Ron Hicks.
Architect Michael Sloan and Benjamin Krevolin of alumni affairs at Vassar, both of whom are Half Moon board members; Niki Quinn and Robert Levine.
Andrew Stein, Arpine Stein and Dr. Dan Katz.
The delegation from the Poughkeepsie Journal, a major sponsor: Michael Gallo Farrell, Barbara Gallo Farrell, Jeff Reis and Chrstine Hamill; Cyndie Alcius and Andrew Meade, who founded the Vassar Haiti Project.
Claudia DeCapua and Lee Dellamonica of LCS Companies;Ted Wolf, Carole Wolf, executive director of MSL Arts, and Nancy Belok, a board member.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
