University News

Annual PAS Gala Set for April 8

March 27, 2017

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL - The Performing Arts Society (PAS) at Western Illinois University will host its "Once Upon a Time Gala and Auction" from 5:30-11 p.m. Saturday, April 8 in the Union Grand Ballroom. The event is presented by MidAmerica National Bank.

Guests will enjoy an evening of elegance and enchantment, as they are surrounded with references to familiar fairy tales. Theatre students from the College of Fine Arts and Communication will be dressed as fairy tale characters and will act out their respective stories in vignettes throughout the event.

Another new feature for this year's Gala will be a live painting done throughout the evening by students from the WIU Department of Art. Guests can watch the painting develop from blank canvas to completed work, and the painting will be auctioned and delivered once dry.

The event will feature a silent auction, with items including an outfitted bar cart, Chicago Cubs baseball tickets, private concerts, gift baskets and more. New this year, a brief, live auction will be provided to guests, with items including a stay in a Chicago condominium, Steve Silberer's famous German chocolate cake, a stay at a Colorado condominium, an Iron Spike golf simulator and food/beer package and tickets to the Broadway phenomenon "Hamilton."

Live music by Downtime Band is sponsored by Edward Jones, Cory Clem. The nine-piece orchestra will perform during the dinner hour, as well as for the evening's entertainment and dancing. The band has a wide range of genres, including Motown, top 40, pop/dance, disco, ballads and jazz.

"The 'Once Upon a Time Gala' is the primary fundraising event of the year for the Performing Arts Society," said event organizer Jill Beck. "The event will showcase the incredible talent of our students, as well as the great things being done by PAS in this community. We invite anyone to attend and enjoy a night of elegance and enchantment."

The PAS provides access to the arts for everyone in the community, and beyond. The Youth Performing Arts Series is fully funded by the PAS. Each year, more than 6,000 area school children attend live performances at WIU, completely free of charge, thanks to PAS. The school's bus expense is also reimbursed.

PAS also provides scholarship funding to the Summer Music Institute, giving junior high and high school students in need the opportunity to attend summer music camps on the WIU Macomb campus.

Tickets to the black tie formal "Once Upon a Time Gala and Auction" are $75 each. Guests have their choice of a vegetarian, chicken or beef dinner.

Because the Gala coincides with WIU Moms' Day, a special rate of $65 per person is available for moms' who attend the event with their WIU Student. RSVPs are due Thursday, March 30 and can be made by calling (309) 298-1618.

For more information, visit wiu.edu/cofac/pas/gala.php.



Posted By: Nicholas Doty (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing