Stadium supporters tip a glass
Annual Beerfest fundraiser helps to support Stadium Theatre programs
It was a night of good food and good sips at the Stadium Theatre Thursday evening as the local performing arts center held its annual Stadium Beerfest fundraiser.
A list of supporting local restaurants, breweries and distributors of regional and national brands teamed up to help the Stadium with a fun and yet helpful fundraising initiative, according to Cathy Levesque, Stadium executive director and CEO.
“The very generous local restaurants donated their delicacies and beer vendors their time and products to all make this a success,” she said of the annual event.
“It does very well and people like to come to the Beerfest because the beer, the food and the entertainment is all included in the $30 per person ticket price,” she said.
From the Stadium’s perspective, the Theatre’s many volunteers all help out in putting on the Beerfest and as a result even more funding is raised for the Stadium’s programs, she said.
The entertainment for the evening, for example, was provided by two guitar playing members of the Stadium’s technical staff, Paul Jacques and Richard Breault.
Dalita Getzoyan of Providence and Hannel Duhamel of Cranston are members of the Stadium’s theater group, but on Thursday were volunteering in the role of Octoberfest servers with authentic-looking German costumes, but actually did double duty while selling fundraiser raffle tickets.
Getzoyan will be performing on the Stadium stage as Fiona when “Shrek” opens at the theatre for a run from Oct. 12 to Oct. 14.
Duhamel was Esmeralda in last year’s Stadium production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Julie Hauser of Foster and her friend, Steve Russo, went to the Beerfest after her brother Phil told them about it. Phil Hauser had gone to last year’s fundraiser,” she noted. “He had found out about it so we came here this year,” she said. Hauser and Russo were found sampling Lagunitas ales poured by Maeghan Connor, the Northern California company’s regional marketing representative.
“This is a really cool place,” Connor said between pours. “I was a theater kid growing up so I love it,” she said.
At the food tables, Courtney Champagne was found helping Gina Savini, one of the owners of Ciro’s Tavern and Ciro’s Pomodoro Restaurant, served up chick- en marsala skewers and pigs-inthe-blanket wraps. There were also hor d’oeuvres from River Falls and several other businesses.
Norm Desjarlais of Blackstone sipped a sample of poured by Samantha Hruska and Jim Hulslander of North American Brewers. “I like their beer,” Desjarlais said. “This one is a mix of flavors.”
Jeff Day of North Smithfield tried one of the Mighty Swell brewing company’s malt spritzer drinks served up by company representative Doug Meaney.
“I like this because it tastes like watermelon,” Day said.
Levesque had special praise for the Stadium’s staff and volunteers.
“Diane Landry, our public relations director, organized the whole thing and everyone from the ushers to the theater performers helped.”