No wonder the annual Granada Theatre Legends Gala has quickly become one of Santa Barbara’s most highly anticipated benefit evenings.įor the seventh annual gala on Saturday, September 16, The Granada Theatre Legends will honor philanthropists Brooks and Kate Firestone, Montecito-based writer and actress Fannie Flagg, and the Ensemble Theatre Company at the New Vic, the first non-resident organization to receive the Cultural Institution recognition. In keeping with the interwoven theme, mini performances from some members of the theater’s resident companies take place all evening, between and during courses and in the spaces between the tables. What’s more, the entire evening takes place on The Granada’s stage, which affords patrons and attendees a rare opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous venue from the performer’s vantage point alongside the honorees and artists. Recognizing the vital importance of all three pillars in the thriving arts scene in town, each year the gala acknowledges a representative from each sector who have illuminated and advanced the arts in a significant way. Indeed, the Legends Gala broadens the scope beyond The Granada to celebrate the entire region’s rich cultural heritage of artists, organizations, and philanthropy. Funds raised from the gala assist the organization in providing best-practices business and marketing support services for The Granada Theatre’s eight resident companies and its Historic Theatre District partners.īut the event is much more than just another fundraising soirée, as the theater’s mission is embedded in the event itself. The annual Granada Theatre Legends Gala helps support those ongoing efforts to ensure that the venue continues to actively serve its resident companies – CAMA, the Music Academy, Opera Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Santa Barbara Symphony, State Street Ballet, American Theatre Guild, and UCSB Arts & Lectures – and engage the local community through diverse live performances and other programming. Entertainment organizations from near and far have found a happy home at The Granada to present their programs, keeping the city’s arts scene humming along at a clip far outstripping its size. Truly a world-class venue, The Granada boasts state-of-the-art electrical, lighting, and sound systems – the latter of which has already been dramatically upgraded in recent years – as well as amenities for both performers and the audience.
The result not only restored The Granada to its 1930s glory but established the theater as the gleaming crown jewel of Santa Barbara downtown’s Historic Theatre District. There’s no doubt that The Granada Theatre has played a vital role in developing and extending Santa Barbara’s thriving music and performing arts landscape for many decades – especially since 2008, when the theater reopened after a massive multi-million dollar renovation.
0 kommentar(er)
