Childsplay Celebrates Founding Artistic Director David Saar at 2016 Gala

Thirty-nine years after founding Childsplay, a nationally and internationally acclaimed professional theater company for children, Artistic Director David P. Saar is retiring. To honor him, Childsplay celebrated Saar and his wife, Sonja, for their contributions to the company, to the arts community, to the Theatre for Young Audiences field and to children everywhere.

The April 9 gala was held at Warehouse 215 @ Bentley Projects in downtown Phoenix. Attendees looked back fondly on the past and with anticipation to the future.

The emotional event raised $150,000 for the new David P. Saar New Plays Program, ensuring new ideas of significance can bubble up and become plays for young audiences, through the workshop process that Childsplay has successfully practiced for several years.

Shelley Cohn chaired the event.

PHOTOS COURTESY CHILDSPLAY

Jenny Millinger crop copy

Jose Cruz Gonzales; Jenny Millinger

Joanie Flatt_Russ and Mac Perlich crop

Joannie Flatt, and Russ and Mac Perlich

Mike and Jennifer Van Kirk crop

Mike and Jennifer Van Kirk

Paul and Laura Scharier crop

Paul and Laura Schairer

Silent Auction crop

The silent auction

Susan and RIch Goldsmith crop

Susan and RIch Goldsmith

Betty Drake crop

Betty Drake

David Saar_Matthew Weiner_Jim Copenhaver crop

David Saar, Matthew Weiner and Jim Copenhaver

Gail Fisher and Mel Kessler crop

Gail Fisher and Mel Kessler

Gaylord and Erica Gagnon crop

Gaylord and Erica Gagnon

Janine Doto and Anthony Runfola crop

Janine Doto and Anthony Runfola

About Cindy Miller

From Frontdoors Magazine

Back to Top