Playmakers Ball
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Playmakers Ball T H 2200 T H AA N N I V E R S A R Y GG A L A The Carolinas’ Biggest Bash PLACE The Carolina Inn DATE November 10, 2007 By Invitation Only 1 PlayMakers Ball It is the largest fund raising gala in the State of North Carolina, and this year it celebrates its 20th anniversary. The PlayMakers Ball is held once a year as a benefit event for the PlayMakers Repertory Company, the oldest professional theatre company in North Carolina. For one day the historic Carolina Inn, on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, is turned over to set designers and local interior designers who transform its elegant salons into a theme‐based fantasy. This year, the theme is “A Designers Dream,” featuring some of the South’s most talented and up and coming Interior Designers. Retreat to Hemingway’s Havana A Journey Through The Eyes of Gauguin Alexander the Greatʹs Journey Through Ancient Greece 2 A Star‐Studded Event The PlayMakers Ball is attended by celebrities from the fields of entertainment, politics, literature, sports and the arts. Each year a “Lifetime Achievement Award” is presented in recognition of their work in theatre arts. Past honorees include actors Jack Palance, Faye Dunaway, costume designer William Ivey Long, and Broadway composer Richard Adler. Last year, 2006, the honoree was Tony award winning stage director Gene Saks. Currently under consideration for the 2007 award are stage and film actor Billy Crudup, comedian and commentator Lewis Black, and actress Angela Landsbury. The PlayMakers Repertory Company guest list for the event will likely boast a large number of celebrities with ties to the theatre company and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including men’s basketball coach Roy Williams, Congressman David Price, and artist Lewis St. Louis. Gene Saks 2006 honoree Deirdre Imershein Haj (Dallas, Silk Stalkings) Playmaker actress greets guests and PlayMakers Artistic Director Joe Haj 3 The Carolina Inn This historic inn opened in 1924. The Carolina Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The inn is owned by the University of North Carolina, it was originally built as a place to stay for returning alumni of the University. It has long been one of the most popular sites for special events and weddings. Along with its rich cultural history, The Carolina Inn is considered an architectural gem, blending elements of the antebellum Southern plantation homes with Georgian Colonial and Neoclassical features often found in the North East. The Inn was restored in 1996 at a cost of $16.5 million. 4 5 Behind The Bash at The PlayMakers Ball Starting early on the morning of November 10, the designers and their staff arrive and overtake the historic Carolina Inn. An intense day of non‐stop creativity follows that will transform the salons into a theme‐based fantasy. The designers are working not only against time but each other, to see who will create the most eye‐catching transformation. At the same time in the Carolina Inn’s kitchen, its staff is also on a race against time to prepare a five‐course feast for the three hundred exclusive guests. Food and entertainment are at center stage for the evening. In the middle of this, society bandleader Peter Duchin and his musicians arrive in the early afternoon to rehearse the evening music. By mid‐afternoon the inn is a symphony of sights and sounds, designers hauling in sets and backdrops, musicians warming up accompanying the clatter of pots and pans preparing food in kitchen, everyone moving in a race to get ready. The action does not end there, as actors from the PlayMakers Repertory Company play hosts for the evening. The actors have their own temporary dressing room to transform themselves, putting on make up and costume in keeping with the evening’s theme. From flowers and furnishings to fabrics and lighting, no expense is spared to dazzle and delight the guests for this very special theatrical evening. The PlayMakers Ball has all the ingredients for captivating television: an historic four star setting, entertaining characters, non‐stop action, gourmet food, famous musicians, amazing décor and glamorous guests ending in a one‐of‐a kind evening of Southern style and elegance. From capturing the designers and chefs at work “behind the scenes” to the arrival of the feted guest of honor, The 20th Anniversary PlayMakers Ball will give audiences an exclusive peek inside one of the South’s most unique social events. 6 A Southern Feast Brian Stapleton Director of Culinary Standards, Aramark Harrison Lodging Executive Chef / Food and Beverage Director The Carolina Inn, June 1998 ‐ April 2007 “If you’re not happy here, you’re not happy anywhere.” Daniel Wallace ‐ Delta Sky Magazine Growing up in a small town on the outskirts of Sacramento, Brian Stapleton was eating fresh, locally grown ingredients beginning early in childhood. From the beginning, Stapleton was learning valuable firsthand lessons in the best possible ingredients. His training at the California Culinary Academy came as a natural progression from his early, passionate forays cooking meals for his family, and there’s been no turning back. Brian joined the Ritz Carlton Company as Sous Chef at the Atlanta Ritz Carlton, AAA Four‐Diamond, Mobil Four Star hotel, in 1987. Over the next 10 years he held a series of chef positions at Ritz Carlton properties as his talents continued to be recognized and rewarded. Brian turned his career in a slightly different direction in 1995, leaving the world of large, national hotel organizations for The Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill, N.C. As Executive Chef, he quickly made the AAA Four – Diamond hotel restaurant, Il Palio, one of the most popular fine dining venues in the Carolinas. Along with receiving recognition in regional and national magazines, Il Palio in 1999 was named Restaurant of the Year. He has brought these lessons to bear at Carolina Crossroads, the elegant Carolina Inn’s, AAA Four‐ Diamond and Mobil Four‐Star restaurant where he has served as executive chef since 1999. Brian has been receiving National attention, showcased August 2003 and September 2005, as guest chef at the James Beard House, represented the state of North Carolina at the 2004 National Seafood Cook off in New Orleans, which has aired on The Food Network, selected to represent Triple A of North Carolina on a chef’s cruise October 2006, as well as his participation on the Chef’s Advisory Board for the NC Sweet Potato Commission and NC Seafood Commission, Brian continues to appear on local and national television and for countless charity events in North Carolina, as well as traveling throughout the country performing demonstration cooking and representing North Carolina in various food and wine events. 7 James Reale Executive Chef The Carolina Inn “Very Close to Perfection – One of Only Two Four Star Restaurants in the State” Mobil Travel Guide Chef Reale was born in New York but grew up in Fayetteville as part of a large Italian family. He was brought up “in the business” by working at his uncle’s wine company as a youth. His childhood greatly influenced his culinary “personality” and he recalls fondly, frequent family gatherings and large festive occasions. Entertaining and cooking were all part of growing up in the Reale family. Strong Mediterranean and Italian influences show thru today in Chef Reale’s cooking. He received his formal culinary education from Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina. His careful, artful pairing of these personal influences with traditional southern influences produces a very unique dining experience. He feels very strongly about the use of local organic and sustainable products and works very hard to strengthen the Carolina Inn’s relationship with local farmers. Chef Reale will be participating as a guest chef for the “Farm to Fork” event featuring Carlo Petrini – the founder of Slow Food International. Chef Reale was part of The Carolina Inn team that was invited two times to the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. He has also participated and led numerous cooking classes and demonstrations. 8 Peter Duchin Bandleader Peter Duchin provides the perfect, charismatic blend of Hollywood, Broadway and New York society. The son of bandleader Eddie Duchin, he is the most famous pianist and bandleader working today. Married to Brooke Hayward, the couple are popular hosts at the center of the New York social scene. In constant demand, he travels the county and world with his orchestra to entertain at important events and weddings. Joseph Haj Producing Artistic Director, PlayMakers Repertory Company PlayMakers new producing artistic director Joseph Haj has re‐energized the theatre company with his fresh outlook and uncompromising commitment to modern, thought‐provoking works. He has worked in Berlin, Edinburgh, Paris, Salzburg, Venice, Japan and the West Bank and Gaza as well as in regional theatres across the United States. Such luminaries as Joanne Akalaitis, Anne Bogart, Peter Sellars, Robert Woodruff, Garland Wright, Michael Grief, Sir Peter Hall, Jon Jory and others have collaborated with him as an actor and director. His magical touch with “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “The Illusion” have won over critics with his unique style. 9 .