Set to a Pirates of Penzance theme, the 26th Annual Friends of Niagara University Theatre Gala provided a fun-filled evening for more than 125 “mateys,” who took in a 4 p.m. performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera at NU’s Leary Theatre before continuing the festivities with a cocktail reception, dinner and silent and live auction at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston. The event took place on Saturday, April 30, 2011.
Niagara University patrons, faculty, staff and students celebrated NU Theatre with their generosity and fellowship, and by snapping up silent and live auction items and applauding recipients of the 2nd annual Spirit of Niagara University Theatre Awards.
Funds raised from the annual gala benefit Niagara’s theatre program and its students, providing needed theater equipment and supplies to workshops and mentoring by guest artists.
Candy and Tom Lytle of Youngstown were co-chairs of this year’s gala. Their daughter, Amanda Lytle Sharpe, is an adjunct speech professor in NU’s Department of Theatre and Fine arts. She is also the director of “Pirates of Penzance.”
Auction Committee co-chairs included Maria Arena, Pamela LeCuyer and Adair M. Saviola. Russell Papia served as chair of this year’s dinner committee.
Next year’s gala, which will include a musical production of Little Women: The Musical, is scheduled for April 21, 2012.
For more information on Niagara University’s Theatre program, please visit www.niagara.edu/theatre-fine-arts.
To view more than 65 photos from this year’s gala, go to Niagara University’s Facebook page.
