Broadway Star Bernadette Peters to Headline GMU Benefit Sept. 26

PHOTO of Bernadette Peters by Andrew Eccles

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George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts recently announced that its 10th anniversary of the annual ARTS by George! benefit will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m. on campus.

One of Northern Virginia’s premier arts benefit events, this spectacular evening of performances, dining and a silent auction is dedicated to raising scholarship funds for students in the areas of visual art, dance, music, theater, computer game design, film and video studies and arts management, as well as the Great Performances at Mason season at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this season.

ARTS by George! is held on Mason’s Fairfax Campus in the de Laski Performing Arts Building and a tented plaza next to the building, as well as in the Music/Theater Building.

“ARTS by George! has become one of the signature social and fundraising events for Mason and, I would venture to say, for Northern Virginia,” says Rick Davis, dean of Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.

ARTS by George! begins as guests are greeted by College of Visual and Performing Arts staff and students on the tented plaza surrounding the statue of George Mason – who is always dressed for the festivities – and then directed to the College’s classrooms, studios and performance spaces throughout Mason’s arts complex, where guests can experience and sometimes even participate in fascinating showcases of short performances and exhibitions by student and faculty artists and ensembles.

Guests will also enjoy sumptuous cuisine and wines from local restaurants, caterers and wine vendors, including Bonefish Grill, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Curry Mantra and RSVP Catering.

One of the highlights of ARTS by George! is the silent auction of distinctive arts-related items, services and experiences. For the first time, guests will have the opportunity to bid on silent auction items before and during the event using BidPal on their mobile devices. Among the items up for bid are a six-night trip to Beijing and Shanghai for two, four opening night tickets to “Kiss Me, Kate” at Shakespeare Theatre Company and invitations to the post-show cast party, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the PBS NewsHour and Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and much more. Information on how to access BidPal is available at artsbygeorge.gmu.edu.

“We are particularly excited to use BidPal for the silent auction for the first time,” says Susan Graziano, director of Development at Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. “Mobile bidding will streamline the process and allow our guests to take in more of the fabulous student showcases while bidding on the incredible array of auction items. It will also allow the auction to be available to the general public prior to the event, expanding our reach and helping us to raise more for student scholarships and the Great Performances at Mason season.”

The evening culminates at 8 p.m. in George Mason University’s Center for the Arts Concert Hall with a performance by Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters. Hailed as the foremost interpreter of Stephen Sondheim’s music, this two-time Tony Award winner is accompanied by a 10-piece orchestra to perform hits from her long and illustrious career. Peters has left an indelible mark on the Broadway stage with her celebrated performances in Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” “Gypsy,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “A Little Night Music” and “Follies,” as well as her Tony Award-winning appearances in “Song and Dance” and “Annie Get Your Gun.”

Following the performance, ARTS by George! guests are welcomed onstage for a post-show champagne and dessert reception with Bernadette Peters.

“The 2015 ARTS by George! is particularly special because we are celebrating our tenth anniversary. We are able to enjoy this fantastic event because of the outstanding community support,” says Don Conwell, ARTS by George! Event Co-Chair. “This wonderful night of music, dance, artistic displays and the latest in game theory, combined with fine wine and wonderful hors d’oeuvres, followed by the performance by the incomparable Tony-Award winning Bernadette Peters and topped off with a champagne toast on the stage is designed to create an evening like no other. This special night has the important additional benefit of providing scholarships for our talented students.”

ARTS by George! SCHEDULE

5 p.m.

Student showcases in visual arts, music, dance, theater, computer game design, film and video studies and arts management throughout the classrooms, studios and performance spaces of the de Laski Performing Arts Building, Music/Theater Building.

Delicious cuisine and wine bars throughout the event.

Silent auction of distinctive arts-related items, services and experiences.

8 p.m.

Performance by Bernadette Peters.

9:45 p.m.

Champagne and dessert reception onstage.

ARTS BY GEORGE! STEERING COMMITTEE

Event Co-Chairs: Joe and Carol Catalano, Don and Tota Conwell

Sponsorship & Business Committee Co-Chairs: Joe Catalano, Don Conwell, Sue Fishburn, Jolanda Janczewski

Silent Auction Committee Co-Chairs: Brian Armstrong, Bob Purks, Joy Quinn

Food & Beverage Committee Co-Chairs: Judy Canyock, Eve Ezell, Ida Portland

Logistics Committee Co-Chairs: Charles Duggan, Mack Miller, Robin Parker

TICKETS FOR ARTS BY GEORGE! (includes student showcases, food, beverages, Bernadette Peters concert and champagne and dessert reception onstage) are $250/person. Contact Susan Graziano at sglomb@gmu.edu, 703-993-4188 or visit artsbygeorge.gmu.edu to order tickets or inquire about sponsorship opportunities and benefits. Like ARTS by George! on Facebook at facebook.com/ARTSbyGeorge and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @GMUARTSbyGeorge using hashtags #ArtsbyGeorge and #ABG2015.

About the College of Visual and Performing Arts

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is dedicated to advancing the study, creation, performance and exhibition of the arts acting on the strong belief in their transformative influence on individuals and societies. The College honors the value of the great traditions in the arts while actively engaging in the creation of new works and ideas. This distinctive fusion of the academic and professional, the campus and the community, the past and the present defines the college as it engages new art forms, communities and ways of working to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. Understanding that an education in the arts is deepened by regular contact with the work of distinguished visiting artists, the Center for the Arts and the Hylton Performing Arts Center, the professional presentation and production arms of the college, welcome a variety of professional and world-renowned artists, musicians and actors to their stages. The college is home to the Schools of Music, Dance, Art and Theater, as well as the Computer Game Design, Arts Management and Film and Video Studies programs.

About George Mason University

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 33,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Mason is also one of the best values in higher education, producing graduates who lead all Virginia schools with the highest annual salaries.