Curtain Call for the Maestro

Photography by Harlan Hambright

The stage is being set. Behind the scenes, construction of the perfect event is underway. Committee chairs and their volunteers bustle about like a production crew. From beginning to end, the elements of the evening are being meticulously choreographed. Soon, it will be time to raise the curtain on Cabaret 2018! (continues)

ABOVE: Sit back and be entertained! Incomparable veteran performer Robert Ray and his talented company of singers, dancers, and musicians will present an evening of classic Broadway that is sure to please theatre devotees and music lovers alike. You’ll recognize favorite show tunes from My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Chicago, and more. Known as Atlanta’s “Cabaret King,” Ray is an experienced Broadway performer who has been producing musical shows for corporate clients for years. He knows how to please a crowd!

These ladies mean business behind the scenes! From left, Sibby Gruber (Seating), Susan Myers (Reservations), Susie Salvatore (Seating) are taking names and arranging tables for diners in preparation for Act I. But you won’t need to focus on the stage for this part of the evening, this Act is designed to delight your palate. You’ll enjoy supper club-style fine dining presented by the talented chefs and kitchen team at Sea Island and served with the exceptional hospitality for which they are known.

2018 Cabaret Chairs (from top): Alice Barlow, Linda Muir, Sharon Flores

Cabaret Chairs (front row, from left), Alice Barlow, Sharon Flores, Linda Muir, with Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs: (second row) Susie Salvatore, Don Myers, Pam Hamilton, Susan Mower, Sibby Gruber, Trish Burns; (third row) Mary Hitt, Betty Davis, David Lowe, Linda Wright, Vivian Edwards, Charlotte Zell; (last row) John Harper, Jennifer Broadus, Susan Myers, Karin Mills, Jan Carriker, Akil Jackson.

Men’s Committee Chair Don Meyers and Live Auction emcee Akil Jackson invite you to get your tickets now for Cabaret 2018 Toast of the Town: A Tribute to Broadway, featuring Robert Ray & Company. The golden age of New York cabaret will be recreated at The Cloister on Sea Island, February 3, 2018. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception sponsored by the Men’s Committee, and the opening of the most exciting silent auction in the Golden Isles.

After dinner, there will be an Intermezzo featuring a tribute to Maestro Luis Haza, who will be retiring as Music Director and Conductor of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia at the end of this season. With an organizational vision of providing the best in musical excellence, Maestro Luis Haza was named Music Director and Conductor in 2013. Under Maestro Haza’s baton, the Symphony became entirely comprised of professional musicians from throughout the Southeast and every performance has been sold out. This is the Symphony and Society’s way of saying thank you. When everyone is seated in the ballroom following cocktails, the Overture will begin. It won’t be Steering Committee members John Harper, David Lowe, and Jennifer Broadus in the spotlight however. When the curtain goes up and the stage is lit, you’ll be treated to a magical, memorable musical prelude that will set the tone for the rest of the evening. Cabaret co-chair Sharon Flores says, “It’s a special beginning to a very special evening.” (continues)

ABOVE: Symphony Society President John Harper and Coastal Symphony of Georgia President Linda Muir lead the two groups who work together in harmony to present Cabaret each year. The Coastal Symphony of Georgia began in 1982. In 2006, The Symphony Society was formed as its volunteer auxiliary. The Society develops friends and funds for the Symphony, giving it higher visibility in the community and providing it with critically needed financial and volunteer resources for continuing growth. Cabaret is the Society’s major fundraising event.

LEFT: Act II showcases a fabulous live auction with some special celebrity guests presided over by the charismatic and always charming Akil Jackson. The Auction Committee made up of Jan Carriker, Mary Hitt, Trish Burns, Vivian Edwards (shown here, from left, with Jackson) have procured some incredible items. There’s a trip for two to NYC with a stay at a fabulous hotel, at least one Broadway play, and a post-theatre dinner at Orso, a favorite dinner destination for Broadway stars following a performance. If you’d rather an island escape, there’s a week for four in a villa on the Isle of Capri. Located in Italy’s Bay of Naples, the island is famed for its rugged landscape, upscale hotels, and shopping, as well as gorgeous natural sites like the Blue Grotto. (continues)

ABOVE: Not only will it be a night to remember in a beautiful setting, thanks to Karin Mills, Decorations Chair (shown here second to right) and the Sea Island staff; the live and silent auctions offer an opportunity for great visibility for donating businesses to an audience with buying power. The Cabaret Catalogue, prepared under the guidance of Pam Hamilton (second to left) and with assistance from Auction Committee Chair Vivian Edwards (far left) lists photographs and full descriptions of all auction items providing exposure to more than 500 potential customers. There’s also an opportunity to win up to $5,000 by purchasing a $10 ticket for the 50/50 Raffle drawing! To purchase, stop by Edward on Saint Simons in Redfern Village or call Raffle Chair, Betty Davis (far right) at 912.634.1765.

RIGHT: While Karin Mills (Decorations) and Akil Jackson (Guest Auctioneer) are making their preparations to make sure this special event at The Cloister sparkles, Linda Wright (Publicity) tells everyone to “Spread the word!” You won’t want to miss this one-night-only special Tribute to Broadway and evening honoring our own “Toast of the Town” here in the Golden Isles, Maestro Haza. It’s a fabulous opportunity to enjoy an exquisite dinner and a phenomenal show in a luxurious locale without having to leave the Golden Isles.