7th Annual Broadway Ball

Arizona Broadway Theatre’s seventh annual , themed “Raising the Stars of Tomorrow,” brought 300-plus attendees to the theater Feb. 29. The gala raised more than $140,000 in support of ABT’s artistic and educational programs.

Festivities included a live auction featuring a Viking River Cruise, Sedona “Cool Down” summer getaway, an exclusive in-home dinner for eight featuring ABT’s culinary and service team, a silent auction, the all-new “Bubbles & Barrels” sparkling wine and whiskey tasting experience, “Gift Card Frenzy” and a wine pull.

Susan Casper, host of ABC14’s Sonoran Living, co-emceed the evening with Brad York, ABT’s director of marketing and development. The pair used an interview-style format with Kiel and Cassandra Klaphake, ABT co-founders and executive and artistic producers, as well as Kurtis Overby, associate artistic director. Their conversation gave Broadway Ball attendees an insider’s look at the theater’s mission, vision, educational plans and goal; artistic success stories; and its influence and impact on Arizona and the national stage.

The cast of La Cage aux Folles (through March 22) kicked off the program portion of the evening with a performance of the show’s opening number. The evening wrapped up with Tiffany Sparks and Liz Fallon, leads in Chicago, ABT’s next Mainstage offering (through April 19), performing “Nowadays” and “Hot Honey Rag” from the show.

ABT’s teen performance troupe, HyRev, performed high-energy renditions of “Cross the Line” from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Bring It On and “A Million Dreams” from the film The Greatest Showman. HyRev also presented a version of Aerosmith’s “Dream On. The teens will benefit from the $16,000 raised for scholarships to help defray the cost of employing the youth in the Mainstage shows for which they will audition and be cast.

PHOTOS COURTESY ARIZONA BROADWAY THEATRE

The 7th Annual Arizona Broadway Theatre Broadway Ball

Brad York, ABT director of marketing development; Kiel Klaphake , executive producer; Cassandra Klaphake, artistic producer; and Kurtis Overby, associate artistic director

Dennis Carlat and City of Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat

CIty of Peoria Vice Mayor Michael Finn and Bridget Binsbacher, councilwoman

Kiel Klaphake, ABT executive producer; Cassandra Klaphake, artistic producer; Brad York, director of marketing and development; Susan Casper, host of ABC15’s Sonoran Living and her husband, Sidney

Warren Huebner, ABT board member, and his wife, Dolores

Jamie Boscardin, Broadway Ball committee co-chair, and her husband, Steve

Brenda Edwards and Jim Edwards, City of Peoria councilman