The Turlock Community Theatre promises patrons world-class entertainment and for their annual fundraiser they’ll be giving guests a taste of the world.
For years the theatre’s Board of Directors for the theatre has hosted an Italian themed dinner and party as the major fundraiser for the year. But some new blood on the Board has sparked some new ideas and led to the launch of All the World’s a Stage.
This year’s festivities will include dinner, live and silent auctions and an entertainment lineup representative of various cultures in the region.
The night’s sponsors include Classic Wines of California, a division of Bronco Wine Company, Larsa Hall, and E. & J. Gallo Winery. Olde Tyme Pastries is serving as the dessert sponsor for the event and will be creating a custom cake representing the theme, as well as sheet cakes and desserts for the dessert auction.
Among the various acts performing at the fundraiser will be the dance troupe from Westside Ministries, which will be performing Folklorico dance and hip hop; the 2019 Tam-Tam finalist Chad Van Rys, who will perform the national anthem and an original song; Folklorico dancing from Los Zapateros, who were finalists in last year’s Tam-Tam show; Portuguese Fado from Ashley Cahill Soto.
“We want to bring entertainment and celebration of our Valley’s cultural heritage to every facet of this evening because that is what Turlock Community Theatre is all about,” said the event’s co-chair Alison Morr Gemperle.
The theatre opened in 1925 and was known as the Turlock High School Auditorium. The building, designed by William Henry Weeks, sustained damage from a fire in 1979 and wasn’t used for several years. In 1986 a group of volunteers banded together to bring the site back to life and in 1999 their efforts paid off when the doors to the Turlock Community Theatre opened.
Now, the 1,000-seat performing arts venue brings acts from around the world and nationally to the stage. The theatre also is home to some of the community’s dance academies, Turlock Youth Performing Arts, the Turlock Concert Association, and other local non-profits which benefit from the subsidized rental rates the theatre offers. Recently, the Turlock Community Theatre started hosting the Tam-Tam Talent Show to highlight local performers.
The fundraiser is what allows many of these groups to be able to use the theatre at a discounted rate, as well as bringing well-known acts to town. Upcoming shows at the Turlock Community Theatre include Black Violin, Catapult: The Amazing Magic of Shadow Dancing, comedian Lewis Black and The Temptations.
All the World’s a Stage will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Larsa Hall in Denair. Tickets are $100 and $1,250 for a table of 10. All tickets must be purchased in advance at www.turlocktheatre.org or call the box office at (209) 668-1169.
