RPAA's 10th Anniversary Celebration Gala

-presents-

ALTERNATE ROUTES: A NIGHT IN THE RIVER CITY
RPAA's 10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION GALA

Friday, September 6, 2019
DOMINION ENERGY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

This year marks a milestone for the organization as we will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts (which originally opened as Richmond CenterStage in September 2009). Proceeds from this event raise vital funds to help sustain the educational and artistic programs of RPAA.

In honor of the 10th Anniversary, Virginia Repertory Theatre's Artistic Director, Nathaniel Shaw, will bring together nine Resident Companies: City Dance Theatre, Elegba Folklore Society, Latin Ballet of Virginia, Quill Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Richmond Symphony, SPARC, Virginia Opera, and Virginia Repertory Theatre for an unforgettable, one-night-only performance to celebrate the transformative power of the arts in our community.

This year's theme is Alternate Routes: A Night in the River City! Jim & Bobbie Ukrop and John & Beverly Bates will serve as our honorary co-chairs for the Gala. Guests will experience a moveable feast, performances by local artists and arts organizations throughout the venues of Dominion Energy Center (Rhythm Hall, Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse, and Genworth BrightLights Education Center), as well as a silent auction. After enjoying the collaborative public performance in the Carpenter Theatre, gala guests will conclude their evening with a dancing and dessert reception in Rhythm Hall featuring live music and entertainment.

Performance only tickets are available at DominionEnergyCenter.com, Altria Theater Box Office (open 10AM - 5PM Monday through Friday), or by calling (800) 514-ETIX (3849).

GALA ITINERARY

5:45 PM Welcome and Registration

6:00 PM Moveable Feast with Open Bar and Pre-Performance Entertainment
Featuring: Richmond Jazz Society Ensemble: Lady E & the Blues Synsations, Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra, and Light the Music

7:30 PM Performance by the Resident Companies of Dominion Energy Center
Featuring: SPARC, Quill Theatre, Virginia Opera, City Dance Theatre, Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Elegba Folklore Society, Latin Ballet of Virginia, and Richmond Symphony

9:30 PM Dessert and Dancing Reception

Featuring: Another Level

"Arts District" Creative Attire - from Smart Casual to Semi-Formal

GALA ENTERTAINMENT

(Artists and Groups Performing During the Moveable Feast & Dessert Reception)

Kenneka Cook

Kenneka Cook bridges the gap between beat-driven sonics and melodic jazz through brazenly colorful and tonally rich music. Her latest album, Moonchild, is a glimpse through Cook's lens, exhibiting heartfelt lyrics and melodic themes on spirituality, technology, and social interaction. Cook was just featured at the Richmond Jazz Festival this past weekend.

Richmond Jazz Society Ensemble: Lady E & The Blues Synsations

Founded in 1979, Richmond Jazz Society continues to build upon its initial success by adding innovative performance and educational programs each year. RJS has established a distinctive series of programs and events to serve performers, students, teachers and the existing jazz audience and to expand that audience. In 2008, RJS was one of ten recipients of the prestigious Governor's Award For The Arts.

Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra (RIGO)

Original music played on handmade instruments made from locally grown gourds, Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra plays its own brand of paleolithic lounge music - mixing past with present, rhythm with melody, and chaos with order.

Light the Music

Light the Music classes launch students into musical creativity. Visuals and sounds come to life in their ORO Visual Music iPad apps, instantly engaging children in learning, and making music. In each class, teachers lead students to explore curriculum, including the science of sound, the families of instruments, and songwriting. As in each class, gala guests will create music using those concepts, in genres such as pop, jazz, and classical.

Another Level

On stage, this 6-piece band can do it all. From Motown and soulful R&B, to classic and modern rock, and lots of contemporary party hits, Another Level's got all your favorites covered. With a group of expert musicians putting authentic heart and soul into every single song, this hot band is peerless in making a real connection with every single audience member.

10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION PERFORMANCES

(Arts Groups Performing on the Carpenter Theatre Stage)

We are pleased to partner with the following Resident Companies for our 10th Anniversary Celebration Performance. Click on the organization names to learn more!

SPARC

Quill Theatre

Virginia Opera

City Dance Theatre

Virginia Repertory Theatre

Richmond Ballet

Elegba Folklore Society

Latin Ballet of Virginia

Richmond Symphony

2019 CORPORATE & INDIVIDUAL GALA SPONSORS

RVA Arts District Sponsor - Title Sponsor

Altria

Marshall Street Sponsors

Dominion Energy

Genworth

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Mr. & Mrs. James E. Ukrop

Main Street Partners

Atlantic Union Bank

Bank of America

Hourigan

McGuireWoods

Patient First

Publix Super Markets Charities

Queen of Virginia Skill & Entertainment, LLC

The Wilton Companies

Westminster Canterbury Richmond

Wilson Butler Architects

Clay Street Ambassadors

Baskervill

Capital Results

City Parking, Inc.

Froehling & Robertson, Inc.

Keiter CPAs

Lingerfelt Commonwealth Partners

Threshold Counsel, PC

Collaborators

Martin J. Barrington & Mary P. Devine

C T & Moira Hill

Bruce & Janet Kay

Supporters

B.K. Fulton & Jackie Stone

Tom & Carolyn Garner

Brian & Sara Griebel

D. Brennen Keene

Bob & Sally Mooney

Pamela J. Royal & C.N. Jenkins

Kathryn A. Strawn

Scott & Vicki Warren

Rodney T. Willett & Lydia R. Pulley

Hotel Sponsor

Hilton Richmond Downtown

Media Sponsors

ABC 8News

Boomer Magazine

Fifty Plus Magazine

GayRVA

Richmond Family Magazine

Richmond Free Press

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Style Weekly

VPM

In-Kind Sponsors

Classic Party Rentals of Virginia

SMG Richmond

For information on Individual or Corporate Gala Sponsorships contact:

Sara Greene, Assistant Director of Development: [email protected] or 804-592-3378.

GALA COMMITTEE

Sally Bagley

Catherine Brown

Rejena Carreras

Sara Griebel

Bruce A. Kay

D. Brennen Keene

Gail Letts

Jose Luis Murillo

Randall S. Parks

Pamela J. Royal

Jacquelyn E. Stone

Linda Warren

Elisabeth Muhlenfeld Wollan

SILENT AUCTION COMMITTEE

Caitlin Boyd-Hartwig

Catherine Brown

Rachel Cannon

Chrissie Carrera

Jamarr Daniels

Patrick Fanning

Kim Ford

Michael Hinchcliffe

Scott Kelly

Megan Miller

Claudia Muth

Ashby Price

Richard Sowers

Brian Wright

Ashley Yavorsky

EVENT MANAGEMENT

Grandeur & Grove Events - Tunstall B. Willis

SILENT AUCTION POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Real time bidding will be available for guests and bidders not at Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts during the event on Friday, September 6, 2019. Notifications will be sent via text message.

1. All prize packages must be paid for in full by the end of the event. Payments may be made with cash, business or personal checks, or a major credit card.

2. All sales are FINAL. No returns or credits are allowed. Packages must be paid for at the end of the evening unless otherwise specified. Winners will receive a certificate with main contact information for prize redemption for each purchased auction lot at the end of the event. If items are not picked up that night, arrangements will be made for the pick-up or shipping of items after the event. We ask that you please cooperate with this provision.

3. All packages are sold "AS IS." Please read lot descriptions carefully. Travel, special events, and dinner packages expire one year from auction date unless otherwise specified. All hotel accommodations and travel reservations are subject to space availability. Blackout dates may apply. Air travel, when provided, originates from RIC unless otherwise indicated on certificate.

4. The highest bidder will be the buyer. In the event of a dispute between two bidders, the event manager will re-open the bidding between the two disputing bidders only. The event manager's decision is final.

5. RPAA reserves the right to reject bids not commensurate with the starting bid listed for that item.

6. Travel and dining packages are subject to blackout and expiration dates in 2019 and 2020.

7. RPAA is not responsible for making travel reservations, event planning, or catering arrangements unless otherwise indicated. The purchaser is responsible for researching all applicable passport and visa requirements on foreign travel packages.

8. Dinners and catered events do not include beverages, taxes, or gratuities unless otherwise stated.

9. All prizes have been donated. Every effort has been made to describe packages as accurately as possible based on the donor's description. RPAA bears no responsibility should any item donated be unsatisfactory or should it become invalid due to foreclosures or changes in operations. RPAA is not responsible or liable for any personal injury or property damage that may result from an auction package. Once a package has been sold, sole contact is between the purchaser and donor(s).

10. Lots purchased at this auction cannot be sold, bartered, or redeemed for cash.

11. Auction prize packages and confirmed bids are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your accountant for guidelines. RPAA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization.

ABOUT RPAA

Since 2009, RPAA has served more than 1 million patrons and transformed the lives of thousands of students. However, our history goes back to 2001 when a group of community leaders had a vision to create an inspiring environment where the performing arts could flourish and strengthen Richmond's cultural, social and economic vitality.

The downtown performing arts complex, now known as Dominion Energy Center, was the dream of many, including arts organizations, business groups, community leaders and countless citizens across Central Virginia. With their support, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation formed in 2001 to make this dream a reality. After careful planning, aggressive fundraising and continued development, we purchased the former Thalhimers department store property adjacent to the historic Carpenter Center, which originally opened as Loew's Richmond Theatre in 1928. Our name then changed to Richmond CenterStage Foundation in anticipation of the new performing arts complex. After more than a year of construction, the Thalhimers side of the property had turned into Dorothy Pauley Square, and the newly renamed Carpenter Theatre had undergone a complete renovation. The entire complex opened as Richmond CenterStage in September 2009. The complex includes Carpenter Theatre, Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse, Rhythm Hall, Showcase Gallery, Genworth BrightLights Education Center and the administrative offices of RPAA, the Richmond Symphony and the Virginia Opera.

Two years after opening Richmond CenterStage, we expanded our family of venues to include the then-named Landmark Theater, formerly "The Mosque." In 2011, the then 89-year-old theater began a once-in-a-lifetime renovation from top to bottom. After completion of the renovation in 2012, the venue was renamed Altria Theater in recognition of the tremendous support from Altria Group, Inc. In recognition of additional support from Dominion Energy (then Dominion Resources, Inc.), the Richmond CenterStage complex was renamed Dominion Energy Center in 2015, which facilitated the rebranding of our organization to RPAA. Although the name changed to better reflect our organization's activities, we continue to work to support today's artists by cultivating diverse arts experiences, to nurture tomorrow's artists through programming and experiences that deepen their connection to the arts, and to provide spaces for the arts to thrive by supporting Richmond's premier historical venues.

Today, our mission remains the same - to provide diverse local and world-class performing arts, transformative arts education experiences for students of all ages, and inspirational venues - all to strengthen the cultural and economic vitality of the Greater Richmond region. No longer a single venue downtown, the new name reflects the inclusive impact we aim to achieve on the performing arts community and the region as a whole.