The Vero Beach Theatre Guild rolled out the red carpet last Saturday evening to celebrate the six decades they have been providing entertainment to theater lovers, at a festive 60th Anniversary Dinner Gala & Silent Auction at the Vero Beach Country Club.

“The dinner gala is a great way for our patrons and supporters to meet our board of directors and to discuss with them in a social setting what our goals and future plans are for the next 60 years at the guild, or at least the next five anyway,” said Jon Putzke, VBTG president.

“As the guild’s president and producer of the Theatre Festival, I hope the community will learn firsthand of the dedication this volunteer-driven organization has amassed over the past 60 years and that they will come to share in the wealth of talent this community has to offer,” said Putzke. “The theatre is a place that teaches us so many things about the human spirit. The theatre can appeal to every emotion we humans possess. Happiness, sadness, thought-provoking; the entire gamut of our lives can and is portrayed in a live performance. No other form of entertainment moves one’s emotions as the art of live theatre can.”

As pianist David Israel tickled the ivories, guests bid on silent-auction items and enjoyed a delicious dinner while reminiscing about past performances. During dessert, Putzke announced the 2018-2019 season schedule: “The Dixie Swim Club,” “Yankee Tavern,” “The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays,” “Miracle on South Division Street,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “The Savanah Sipping Society.”

To commemorate a rich history of 355 mainstage productions, the VBTG has offered three weeks of theatrical bliss. In addition to the gala, the Theatre Festival featured a “Celebrating 60” musical revue of past and present Broadway Blockbusters, an open house to give theater-goers a peek behind the curtain and the upcoming Readers’ Theatre Productions.

Over the course of four days (Feb. 15-18), the Vero Beach Theatre Guild will stage “Murderers” by Jeffery Hatcher, “The People’s Republic of Edward Snowden” by Willian Turck, “A Night to Remember” by Walter Lord, “Judgement at Nuremberg,” by Abby Mann, and “Jerry Finnegan’s Sister.”

The 2017-2018 season continues with “To Kill a Mockingbird” (March 8-25) and “The Fantasticks” (May 10-20). For the full schedule, visit verobeachtheatreguild.com.