Place: Pinecrest Country Club Longview, TX When: March 29, 2008 Cocktails: 6:30 5-star Dinner and Entertainment: 7:15 pm Tickets: Sponsor Tables: $1500 full table / $750 half table Tables of eight: $800 Individual Tickets: $100 Call 903-234-1300 for reservations

Opera East Texas announces it theme of “Jewels of the Night” for its star-studded 6th Annual Musical Kaleidoscope Gala to be held Saturday, March 29 at Pinecrest Country Club.  According to this year’s chairman, Claire Roberts, the evenings entertainment will include stars from Broadway and beyond, including return appearances by 2005 “Tosca” star Kerri Marcinko, 2004 “Pirates of Pinzance” star Matthew Chellis and Dallas comedian/singer Paul J. Williams.”  Special guests include Jerry Steichen, OET’s Artistic Director and conductor, also from New York City as emcee and accompanist for the evening’s program.  Steichen recently conducted the Boston Pops orchestra and was the final conductor for “Cats” before it closed on Broadway.  He has traveled the world touring with “Phantom of the Opera” and conducting notable orchestras in Australia, Norway, Japan, and throughout the U.S.  He is a native Oklahoman who has been Artistic Director and Conductor for OET for seven years.

“We are proud to feature for the first time a returning Longview hometown star Robin Rice, professor of voice and music at Ohio State,” states Roberts.  “We finally worked it out in our schedules to have this masterful musician return home to entertain us.  His schedule is busy during the academic year, and he travels throughout the summer months singing on tour.”  Rice, who is a native of Longview and son of Bill and Rachael Rice, has taught voice for young artist programs in some of the country’s most elite opera companies including Utah, San Diego and Florida Grand.  Rice recently held voice studios in Tuscany and Buenos Aires.

The evening program is designed with dinner in the round with center stage featuring an intimate way for entertainers to be “up close and personal.”  The evening was created as a major fundraising event to introduce the cast of the upcoming summer opera.  Since this year’s season does not include a summer opera, this year’s Gala will bring in a blend of several singers of past operas.  A new star and friend of Steichen’s Annie Kozuch has been invited to be the Broadway “ babe” of the evening.  Kozuch is an actress/singer from New York and will be belting out some favorite Broadway tunes.  The opera company chose to bring in Ft. Worth Opera’s performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in December of 2007, instead of producing an opera this summer.

“There is not any evening like this in East Texas,” says board member and former OET director Derrith Bondurant.  “The evening is a cornucopia of talent singing love songs, famous duets, funny show tunes and those favorite tear-jerkers from “Phantom of the Opera.”  The dinner includes five courses and wine in a beautiful setting, plus gorgeous singing and fun antics of comedian Paul J. and hysterical stories from Steichen, who will host the evening.  This year will be extra special to bring home Robin Rice.”  “When we found out Robin was available, we sought to work out a way to get him here this year,” says Bondurant. “Actually, he was Kerri Marcinko’s voice teacher at Ohio State, so this is a great coincidence.  I don’t think they have sung together since that time, so this will be another first to have both student star and teacher star in the same event. 

The theme for this year’s event is “Jewels of the Night,” according to decorations chairman Cindi-Marie Lewis.  “Guests will enter on a red carpet to see beautifully designed tables to take your breath away.  Once you enter, you’ll be dazzled.  Jewels will be everywhere, and we encourage our ladies to be decked out in their jewels, too.” 

This is our premier event of the year in 2008.  We are proud to offer this quality of entertainment to the community,” states Dickens Wilkinson, president of the board that oversees the fundraising events of OET.  “When we bring in this kind of talent to East Texas, it always raises the bar for the quality that our city deserves.”  The evening will begin at 6:30 with a Silent Auction and Social time.  Music and dinner will follow.  Encores will be sold at the conclusion of the night’s program to add extra fund-raising opportunities for the evening.  Silent Auction co-chairs are Derrith Bondurant and Gai Linn Roberts.  The Silent Auction is being held for the second year and raised over $10,000 in 2007.

Tickets and invitations are available by contacting the Opera East Texas Office, 903-234-1300, in Downtown Longview.  Offices are located at the T.G. Field Auditorium.  Reservations are required for this formal event.  Tickets are $100 per person, Tables of eight for $800, and sponsor tables are available for $750 half tables of four and $1500 full table for prime seating of eight people with a star seated at the table.

The Host Sponsor for the second year is White Oak State Bank, George Moody, President.