Chilkat Center boosters are ramping up fundraising efforts with a gala Aug. 17 and an “Adopt-a-Seat” program.
The Foundation for the Chilkat Center for the Arts will “sell” seats for $250 to $1,500 to raise money for improvements to the facility’s lighting, sound and communications systems, as well as interior decorating. Seats closer to the stage will be priced higher. Seats can be adopted for five years.
A small plaque engraved with a name or expression will be fixed on the right armrest of seats. A separate arrangement will allow businesses to put their name on a row.
Sue Waterhouse, a member of the Foundation for the Chilkat Center who organized the “Adopt-a-Seat” program, said she expects to sell all 217 seats. “I’m hoping we can expand and sell the wings as well,” Waterhouse said.
Seat sponsors will have the privilege of reserved seating for all Haines Arts Council and Lynn Canal Community Players events if they choose.
The foundation also will raffle off the best seat in the house: the facility’s front-and-center seat. Raffle tickets will be $20 at the Babbling Book.
The improvements, adopted seats and raffle winner will be revealed at the center’s “Best of the Best” 90th anniversary tribute event in September 2014. The show will feature live snippets of past productions staged at the Chilkat Center and will be preceded by a VIP reception.
Seat sponsors will also receive a ticket to the premier event.
“People are excited. A lot of people really love the Chilkat Center and want to support it. It’s coming up on its 90th anniversary, so let’s have a big show and let’s get it fixed up as good as we can,” Waterhouse said.
The foundation will start selling the seats at its Aug. 17 “A Late-Summer Night’s Dream” concert and gala. The event starts at 7 p.m. and features orchestral performances of Brahms, Telemann, Mozart and other composers.
Allan Vogel and Janice Tipton from the L.A. Chamber Orchestra will be performing on oboe and flute, respectively. Steve Tada and Nancy Nash will be on violin and piano.
Foundation member Annette Smith said she was “thrilled” such accomplished musicians are volunteering their time to play the benefit.
“Every musician that plays at the Chilkat Center is amazed and enamored with the wonderful acoustics. They all love to play there with its pleasant surroundings and acoustics,” Smith said.
Smith said the night will be full of “fantasy and surprises.” Center boosters held a similar fundraiser last July. “It was just a really good feel. Everyone was really congenial and happy and we hope to recreate that feeling of enjoyment,” Smith said.
Tickets are $20. They are available at the Babbling Book and at the door.
Waterhouse said the foundation’s wish list for fundraising is $170,000, which doesn’t include labor costs associated with the improvements.