Upcoming gala fundraiser supports Charleston Stage

Food, wine, entertainment, shopping -- what more could you ask for from Charleston Stage's upcoming fundraiser?

"Entertaining Charleston," the dinner and gala planned for Thursday, has it all.

As master of ceremonies, Greg Tavares of The Have Nots! will oversee the evening of gourmet food, musical performances, and live and silent auctions as Gaillard Auditorium's Exhibition Hall comes alive with 400 guests joining together to support Charleston Stage's professional theater company and arts education for Lowcountry youths.

Charleston Stage was founded by Julian Wiles in 1978 and is the state's largest professional theater company, employing 10 full-time staff members, guest artists, and dozens of actors, dancers, singers and musicians and high school apprentices.

The gala evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction with items such as golf and fitness packages; artwork from galleries including Horton Hayes Fine Art, Wells Gallery and Helena Fox Fine Art; and family-friendly packages from the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, Charleston Battery and the RiverDogs, according to Helen DeBuse, donor relations and special events manager.

The dinner portion of the evening begins at 8 and promises a cornucopia of flavors if the sample menus are any indication. Each of the 16 chefs from 14 Charleston restaurants will preside over two or three guest tables offering gourmet three-course meals including such dishes as pan-roasted monkfish with house-cured prosciutto, chanterelle mushrooms and roasted pecans with lobster grits and venison osso-bucco with Anson Mills farotto and dried plum salsa seca. The meal will be accompanied by wines chosen by the city's best sommeliers. Participating restaurants are 39 Rue de Jean, Charleston Grill, Circa 1886, Fat Hen, Fish, Fulton Five, Halls Chophouse, Jasmine Porch at The Sanctuary, Mercato, McCrady's, Muse, Oak Steakhouse, Ocean Room at The Sanctuary and Wild Olive.

Auctioneer Ken French will preside over the live auction featuring items such as tickets to the Carolina-Clemson game on Nov. 28 and clubhouse passes to the Verizon Heritage golf tournament next spring.

For a taste of Charleston Stage's 2009-10 season, during the evening the Resident Professional Acting Company, Theatre School and SummerStage students will present a musical salute highlighting the season opener "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Evita!"

Tickets are $200 per person or $1,850 for a table of 10. To purchase, call 856-5316.

Last year's gala raised $160,000, and DeBuse says, "Of course, we'd love to do even better this year."

Christine W. Randall is assistant features editor. Contact her at 937-5703 or randall@postandcourier.com.