Since its grand opening in 2022, the new theater at the Highlands Performing Arts Center has been receiving rave reviews.
In order to keep the facility in tip top shape, the PAC staff and board will be hosting the first-ever “Gala Review” at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 3.
“This building was built by the community and the generous people who donated time and money to make it happen,” PAC Executive Director Mary Adair Trumbly said. “We knew once the new theater was open it was going to take a funding boost to cover the costs associated with keeping it maintained. So we decided this year to start doing a fundraiser and we hope that it will become an annual event.”
The Gala Review will begin with a gourmet cocktail buffet provided by Sean Dobruck and Mark Ellis. There will be a variety of bar options available provided by Farm to Cocktail – including a new signature drink just for the PAC, known as “The Curtain Call.”
There will be a dessert bar featuring offerings from several of Highlands’ finest restaurants.
The entertainment portion of the event will feature some of the area’s top talent sharing the stage for a fun night of music, theatre and performance art.
“We have the Foxfire Boys coming and they are always a popular bluegrass act, and they will be joined by The V8’s, who play a mix of classic rock and radio hits,” Trumbly said. “Scotty B will also be performing as will some members of the Mountain Theatre Company cast… and we have a few surprises up our sleeve too.”
One of the new theater’s most unique features will also be on display.
“We are going to remove the first three rows of seats, which will allow us to have a dance floor in front of the stage,” Trumbly said. “The seats are fairly easy to remove and reset, which gives the theater a lot of options as far as the layout for different types of performances.”
Tickets for the Gala Review are $200, and only a limited number are available.
“It’s going to be a fun night and all of the proceeds will go toward operations and maintenance here at the PAC,” Trumbly said. “Highlands and Cashiers have always been so supportive of the arts, especially the performing arts, that is what allows us to do what we do and bring in the caliber of acts that we bring in.”
For more information, or to buy tickets, visit www.highlandsperformingarts.com, or call the PAC at 828-526-9047.