Over the course of the evening, Oddfellows raised over $20,000, $15,000 of which will be going directly to support scholarships for students, the Children’s Circus of Middletown, the Neighborhood Troupes/Arts Explorers for at-risk youth program, and the Teen Repertory Company’s fall production of William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead: A True Account of the Zombie Plague of 1599. Executive Director Matthew Pugliese said that he was “overwhelmed by the support and generosity of all those attended and donated to the Playhouse.” Oddfellows Playhouse Food Improv Success
Middletown, CT – On Thursday, June 28, Oddfellows Playhouse hosted a fundraising event, Food Improv: Where the Performing Arts Meets the Culinary Arts, at the Wadsworth Mansion of Middletown. The event brought together over 140 of Oddfellows’ friends, alumni, community leaders, and families to enjoy a variety of food and drink while helping to support a great organization.
Over the course of the evening, Oddfellows raised over $20,000, $15,000 of which will be going directly to support scholarships for students, the Children’s Circus of Middletown, the Neighborhood Troupes/Arts Explorers for at-risk youth program, and the Teen Repertory Company’s fall production of William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead: A True Account of the Zombie Plague of 1599. Executive Director Matthew Pugliese said that he was “overwhelmed by the support and generosity of all those attended and donated to the Playhouse.”
The event showcased performances by two of Traveling Circus’ members, Jasmine Peck and Zachary Sayers and a singing solo by Teen Repertory member Jacquan Shockley. An attendee of the event, Peter Abare-Brown, said that it was “great to be able to see the kids perform. It really hits you when you see what they are accomplishing and how you can help them achieve that.”
For the event, twelve of the best chefs and restaurants from around the state will be making tasting style dishes for guests to try. “Each of the restaurants made amazing dishes, using past Oddfellows’ productions as inspiration for their food”, says Co-Chair of the event Elizabeth Cipollina, “and we can’t thank them enough for their support. From the Ubo Rex inspired sushi of Miya Sushi, to the Wizard of Oz styled cupcakes from A Little Imagination Cakes, we are grateful”
“Not only were all our restaurants and guests generous and supportive of us, but sponsors were as well, including Citizen’s Bank, Connecticut Rental Center, Centerplan Companies of Middletown, Done on the Run, VerTerra, Connecticut Beverage Mart, Cardinal International, and Restaurant Equipment Paradise ” says Co-Chair Mary Murphy. “Being able to help an organization like Oddfellows, and all the work it does for this community and seeing all the people come out to support them at the event, it made me know how valuable they really are.”
Oddfellows programming is made possible through the generous support of the American Savings Foundation, the CDBG Scholarship Program, the CT Department of Economic and Community Development, the CT Department of Education, Community Foundation of Middlesex County, Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Fund, Elizabeth Carse Foundation, the Fund for Greater Hartford, the George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation, the Irving Kohn Foundation, the J. Walton Bissell Foundation, Liberty Bank Foundation, Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Middlesex United Way, the Middletown Commission on the Arts, Middletown Youth Service Bureau Afterschool Incentive Grant, Pratt & Whitney, Price Chopper Golub Foundation, the Stare Fund, Stop and Shop Foundation, Thomas J. Atkins Foundation, Triple Frog, LLC and WESU (88.1FM).
Media support is provided by Comcast and WESU 88.1FM.
