Arts & Sciences Celebrated In Cape May With Inaugural Gala

CAPE MAY, NJ — Arts and sciences will intertwine this weekend in Cape May with a new gala.

On Sept. 14, East Lynne Theater Company and Cape May Point Science Center will host its inaugural daVinci Gala—A Celebration of Arts and Sciences. The joint fundraiser, which is open to the public and will benefit both nonprofit organizations, will honor Cape May resident and longtime preservationist particularly when it comes to Cape May, as well as supporter of numerous area nonprofits, Christina Clemans.

The gala will be held outdoors on the lawn of the Science Center in Cape May Point and will include silent and live auctions, themed cocktails, food by The Chalfonte Hotel, Monarch butterfly tagging and Plein Air painting demonstrations, a showcase of Les Paul guitars, performances from musicians and singers and more.

“Since the beginning of time, arts and sciences have naturally been associated and, during the
Renaissance, Leonardo daVinci studied and worked on both intensely. Obviously, everyone is familiar with his art, but it’s science and nature that proved to be his biggest inspiration and touched everything he did,” East Lynne Board President Susan Tischler said. “This is why we at East Lynne Theater are so excited and extremely proud to co-host the first-ever daVinci Gala—A Celebration of Arts and Sciences with the Cape May Point Science Center.”

Honoree Clemans, along with her late husband Dave, has been a major donor to both East Lynne and the Science Center throughout the decades. Additionally, the couple was instrumental in saving Cape May’s historic Allen AME Church from demolition after it suffered a damaging fire. Last year, she presented a check to East Lynne Theater Company that officially launched their $1.2 million capital campaign to establish a new playhouse at the church, which will be called The Clemans Theater at Allen AME Church.

“Chris Clemans was the obvious choice for our inaugural honoree,” Bob Mullock, president of Cape May Point Science Center, said. “She and Dave have done so much for our community. Look around Cape May today and whatever you see, whether it has to do with the arts or sciences or, of course, preservation, it’s because of the Clemanses.”

Performances throughout the evening will include a headliner, New York cabaret performer Marnie Klar accompanied by Amy Hufana; Chaste Treasure, a singing female duo performing sassy songs, modern parodies and frolicking drinking tunes; and Cape May’s favorite jam band, Howard Street Ramble.

The open-to-the-public gala will take place at 5-8 p.m., Sept. 14, at Cape May Point Science Center, 101 Lehigh Ave., Cape May Point. Silent auction items can be found in advance of the event at Zeffy.com. For more information or for tickets, which are $175 per person, go to EastLynneTheater.org or CapeMayPointScienceCenter.org.