It was a perfect Florida evening as some 350 guests, dressed in their finest attire, ascended the grand steps of Riverside Theatre for its Spring Celebration Gala, its first since 2019.
Excitement filled the air as they mingled on the outside veranda at sunset, greeting and toasting each other with new hope that the pandemic is fading, and a new life filled with promise is beginning.
“We are so excited to have a wonderful crowd tonight,” said Oscar Sales, Riverside’s marketing director.
“We haven’t had a gala in over two years, and we’re excited to have Brian Stokes Mitchell on stage. We have such beautiful weather tonight and all the beautiful people are here supporting our theater. We can’t wait to get back to doing what we do best.”
Sales enthusiastically announced that Comedy Zone performances will begin the weekend of April 8 and will run through the end of the year, as will the free outdoor Concerts in the Loop.
Although the theater was forced to lower the curtain on its production of “Carousel,” the last show of the season, “Almost Heaven: The Music of John Denver” is expected to open May 10 and run through the end of that month.
After the lively cocktail hour, the theater aficionados were escorted into Stark Main Stage where they anxiously awaited the appearance of Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell.
Gala co-chairs Kathleen Poole and Gloria Anderson thanked the Friends of Riverside committee for their dedication and hard work in putting on the event, as well as the sponsors and supporters of the theater for their continued backing throughout the pandemic, even when the stage was dark.
Alan Cornell, producing artistic director, took the stage to announce that despite being shut down for two years, the theater is back better and stronger than ever, and that this gala broke all net financial records for any previous event held at the theater.
Cheers erupted when Mitchell took center stage accompanied by his pianist. Once dubbed by the New York Times as ‘the last leading man,’ he did not disappoint, opening with a rousing rendition of “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”
Mitchell spoke of his own terrible bout with COVID and how it gave him a new perspective on life and a renewed feeling of hope. Later, he reflected about how the pandemic of 1917 was followed by the Roaring ’20s and expressed his eagerness to embrace a new awakening after this current pandemic with robust love and energy.
Those messages were conveyed through songs that included “How to Love a Woman,” “Wheels of a Dream” and “Feeling Good.” And the house lights were turned on during his performance of “If Ever I Would Leave You,” enabling him to focus on a few lucky women in the audience who were captivated by his serenade.
The enchanting evening ended with a formal three-course dinner catered by Elizabeth D. Kennedy & Company and served on elegantly decorated tables adorned with cherry blossom floral arrangements.
Throughout the entire evening one sentiment was abundantly clear: The show must and will go on.
Photos by Kaila Jones
