It was an evening of highlights, and the brightest of all was Harry Connick, Jr. who lit up the stage at the Broward Performing Arts Foundation’s Annual Celebration. The event, presented by Dr. Lee and Brigitte Mandel and the South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center, raised $678,000 for the education and enrichment programs of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
There were enough special moments to keep guests entertained all evening long. They started with a pre-show cocktail reception on the Wendt Terraces at the Huizenga Pavilion before moving into the Au-Rene Theater for Connick’s spectacular performance. Once in the theater, it was like old times with a full house and an audience eager to celebrate the return of live performances. It had been two long years, and people were ready to party.
After the performance, as the stage was being transformed into an elegant supper club, guests were served champagne at their seats and Broward Performing Arts Foundation chair Richard Welch, Foundation president Lisa Kitei and Broward Center president & CEO Kelley Shanley spoke to them from the stage. Welch proposed a toast to the return of live theater and the resiliency of the Broward Center staff. “Congratulations to everyone who made this possible,” he said. “Let’s have some fun tonight.”
Kitei and Shanley both recognized the supporters of the Center. Kitei thanked the Celebration sponsors, underwriters and guests. “The people in this room are the people who kept us going every night, not just tonight, and for that we are very grateful,” she said. Shanley, too, spoke of the important role played by the Center’s supporters and staff in getting through the pandemic. “We got here with the help of our friends,” he said. “We are able to enjoy this evening together because of all the people who believed in us and did what they needed to do in order to bring us to the other side.”
At the conclusion of his remarks, Shanley announced dinner by saying, “We are coming down to pick you up and take you on stage with us.” And to the cheers of more than 350 guests, the thrust of the stage was lowered, the curtain was raised, and everyone stepped onstage to enjoy dinner and dancing for the rest of the evening.
Content Courtesy of The Broward Performing Arts Foundation and Pierson Grant PR
