CSC Gala 2019

Saturday, April 6, 2019
Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 11th annual Gala, The event, co-chaired by Ricardo Rodriguez and Michael Kelley, raised over $200,000 to support Free Shakespeare on the Common: Cymbeline and featured a performance by special guest, Tony winner and film and stage  icon, Brian Dennehy.

Ricardo Roderiguez and Ashley Bernon


Co-Chairs: Ricardo Rodriguez and Michael Kelley

GALA COMMITTEE*                                                                                         SPONSORS
Cara Abdulrazak and Stephen Walsh                                                     Cara Abdulrazak and Stephen Walsh
Ashley Bernon and Kyle Miller                                                                 Ashley Bernon and Kyle Miller
Ashley GH Branum                                                                                     Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Carolyn Croisier and Alain Mallet                                                             Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
Melissa and Paul Karger                                                                            Irwin and Sheila Heller
David Friedman, ex officio and Jennifer Sun                                          Dennis Hong and Rob Hagan
Allena Goren and Dr. Alexander DePaoli                                                Kessler Family Foundation
Sheila and Irwin Heller                                                                               Steven Maler and Anthony Liquori
Dennis Hong and Rob Hagan                                                                   Joan Moynagh and Adam Sholley
Ashley and Wes Karger                                                                             New Boston Ventures
Susan and Bill Poduska                                                                             Susan and Bill Poduska
Steven Maler, ex officio and Anthony Liquori                                        Ricardo Rodriguez and Michael Kelley
Tivon Marcus                                                                                               TwinFocus Capital
Sam Mazzarelli and Jonathan Soroff
Amanda McGuire and Alex Zook
Sam S. Plimpton
Susan and Bill Poduska
Leslee Shupe
Melissa Steffy
Alina Wolhardt and Jay Gordon 

*as of January 22, 2019

Donations to the gala are 100% tax-deductible. For gala tickets and table sponsorship, you can deduct as a charitable contribution the price of the ticket or table, less its fair market value. We estimate the fair market value as $150 per person.

Fred Sullivan, Jr. and Brian Dennehy

 

FAQ's

When should I arrive?

The cocktail reception begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Copley Plaza.  We’ll move into the Oval Room for dinner around 7:15 p.m.

Where should I park?

Valet Parking is available at the Fairmont Copley Plaza on both the St. James Avenue entrance and the Dartmouth Street entrance for a fee of $32.  Parking is also available at the Dartmouth Street Garage.

How much are tickets? How can I buy them? Can I buy tickets at the door?

Tickets cost $500 each.  You may mail us a check:  Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, 231 Forest Street, Sorenson Center, Babson Park, MA 02457. Please note “gala ticket” in the memo line of your check; or purchase tickets online via credit card.  Tickets are not sold at the door.  If you have any questions, please call 617-426-0863.

Will I receive an actual ticket?

No, your name will be on the RSVP list at check-in, and you will receive your dinner seating assignment then.

I am planning to attend, but I have special dietary needs. Can they be accommodated?

Yes!  Please notify us by calling 617-426-0863.  With advance notice, the hotel is able to accommodate all special dietary requests.


What should I wear? What does black tie mean?

For gentlemen, black tie means a tuxedo and bow tie or a dark suit and tie.  For women, formal evening attire, including long evening gowns, evening pantsuits, or cocktail dresses.  Most women will be wearing long dresses. 

What is the purpose of the gala? Why are you raising money?

The gala raises money to help underwrite the costs of presenting Free Shakespeare on the Common.  It costs over $400,000 to produce our 18 performances each summer.

I’m not able to attend the gala, but I’d like to make a contribution in support of Free Shakespeare on the Common. How may I do so?

Thank you!  You may make a donation via the gala website HERE or you may send a check to Attn: Erin Coffey, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, 101 Arch Street, 8th floor, Boston, MA 02110. Please note “gala donation” in the memo line of your check.

Individual Benefits

Gold Table Sponsor – $25,000+

  • Seating for 20 guests at 2 tables of 10 guests each at the CSC Gala on April 6, 2019 in a premium location
  • Recognition as a Gold Sponsor in the gala program book, from the podium during the gala, on CSC’s web and social media pages, and in CSC press releases
  • 4 tickets to the pre-show reception on Opening Night of Free Shakespeare on the Common on July 24, 2019
  • 4 reserved chairs in our Friends Section at Free Shakespeare on the Common, on Opening Night on July 24, 2019, plus 6 additional chairs to use at a performance of your choice (July 17 – August 4, 2019).

OR 10 reserved chairs in our Friends Section at another performance of your choice. Blackout dates may apply.

  • Recognition in our nightly pre-show public announcement at Free Shakespeare on the Common, and special thanks from the stage at each performance of Free Shakespeare on the Common
  • Invitations to other CSC events, including post-performance receptions to meet the artists

Silver Table Sponsor – $10,000

  • Seating for 10 guests at the CSC Gala on April 6, 2019 in a preferred location
  • Recognition as a Silver Sponsor in the gala program book, from the podium during the gala, and on CSC’s web and social media pages
  • 4 tickets to the pre-show reception on Opening Night of Free Shakespeare on the Common on July 24, 2019
  • 4 reserved chairs in our Friends Section at Free Shakespeare on the Common, on either Opening Night on July 24, 2019 or another performance of your choice (July 17 – August 4, 2019). Blackout dates may apply.
  • Invitations to other CSC events, including post-performance receptions to meet the artists

Bronze Table Sponsor – $5,000

  • Seating for 10 guests at the CSC Gala on April 6, 2019
  • Recognition as a Bronze Sponsor in the gala program book and on CSC’s web and social media pages
  • 2 tickets to the pre-show reception on Opening Night of Free Shakespeare on the Common on July 24, 2019
  • 2 reserved chairs in our Friends Section at Free Shakespeare on the Common, on either Opening Night on July 24, 2019 or another performance of your choice (July 17 – August 4, 2019). Blackout dates may apply.
  • Invitation to other CSC events, including post-performance receptions to meet the artists

Individual Tickets – $500

  • 1 ticket for the CSC Gala on April 6, 2019
  • 1 reserved chair in our Friends Section at any performance of Free Shakespeare on the Common

(July 17 – August 4, 2019). Blackout dates may apply.

 

Corporate Sponsorship

Your Company’s Participation
Sponsoring CSC is a wonderful idea for your company for four reasons:

  • You gain access to the annual theatre-going audience of tens of thousands on Boston Common through Free Shakespeare on the Common print and social media, including program book ads, billboards, banners, posters, postcards, acknowledgement as a sponsor from the stage, e-newsletters, listing and links on our homepage, commshakes.org, plus your logo and link on our Free Shakespeare on the Common and 2019 Gala web pages. You also gain access to the city’s elite cultural philanthropists who attend the CSC gala through tickets to attend the event.
  • Recognition opportunities – including signage on Boston Common – and at the gala! Corporate sponsors at the top levels may be the featured sponsor at a performance of Free Shakespeare on the Common that you select. In addition, your organization’s top executive is invited to welcome the crowd before the performance. You may choose to have a reserved tent in our front-of-house area to welcome your guests and if applicable, promote your organization to our general
  • Access to reserved chairs in our Friends Sectionat Free Shakespeare on the Common and behind-the- scenes tours of our production
  • Special benefits for your guests, including a discount code for reserved chairs to share with your employees or customers, discount codes for future CSC productions and merchandise, and special pre- show conversations for your guests about the production with Founding Artistic Director Steve Maler or Associate Artistic Director Adam


Corporate Sponsorship Levels & Benefits

As a thank you for your sponsorship, we will include the following benefits during our season, at the CSC Gala (April 6, 2019) and for Free Shakespeare on the Common: Cymbeline (July 17 – August 4, 2019).

Contact Information
For more information on sponsorships and advertising, please contact Janet Goff, Events Consultant, at 617-426-0863 or jgoff@commshakes.org.

Platinum Lead Sponsor             $50,000 and above

  • Seating for 20 guests at 2 tables of 10 guests each at the gala in a premium location
  • Recognition as Platinum Lead Sponsor inthe gala program book
  • Special stand-alone gala signage noting your company as Platinum Lead Sponsor
  • Full-page advertisement with prime placement in the gala program book, full-page ad in the Free Shakespeare on the Common playbill, and half-page ads in 2 season productions playbills
  • Acknowledgement as Platinum Lead Sponsor in our press releases
  • 4 tickets to the pre-show reception on Opening Night of Free Shakespeare on the Common on July 24, 2019
  • 4 reserved chairs in our Friends Section on Opening Night of Free Shakespeare on the Common on July 24, 2019, plus 12 additional chairs to use at another performance date of your choice (July 17 – August 4, 2019)

OR 16 reserved chairs in our Friends Section at a performance of your choice (July 17 – August 4, 2019). Blackout dates may apply.

  • 2 behind-the-scenes tours of our production compound at Free Shakespeare on the Common for up to 8 guests per tour (due to space constraints). Blackout dates may
  • Your logo on all CSC web and social media pages, including our home page, org, our 2019 gala page, our Free Shakespeare on the Common page, and on our Facebook pages
  • Invitation to join Founding Artistic Director Steve Maler and a guest artistata private lunch or dinner
  • Your logo on all CSC print materials for the 2018-2019 Season, Free Shakespeare on the Common, and for the 2019 Print media includes brochures, posters, postcards, billboards, advertisements, and all gala collateral materials
  • Logo on all e-newsletters through the end of our season on September 30, 2019
  • A banner, provided by you, featuring your business on the Boston Common for 4 weeks
  • Acknowledgement as Platinum Lead Sponsor from the podium at the gala, in our nightly pre-show announcement at Free Shakespeare on the Common, and special thanks from the stage at each performance of Free Shakespeare on the Common (18 performances)
  • Eligibility to be a featured sponsor at one of our performances of Free Shakespeare on the Common, including:
    • Opportunity for your organization’s top executive to welcome the crowd that evening before our performance (excludes Opening Night)
    • A reserved table in our front-of-house area where you can welcome your guests and if applicable, promote your organization to ouraudience
    • Special benefits to offer your employees or guests at Free Shakespeare on the Common, which may include a discount code for future CSC productions, a discount on CSC merchandise, and more
  • Invitations to other CSC events, including post-performance receptions to meet the artists

Gold Sponsor             $25,000

  • Seating for 20 guests at 2 tables of 10 guests each at the gala in a premium location
  • Recognition as Gold Sponsor in the gala program book
  • Full-page advertisement with prominent placement in the gala program book, full-page ad in the Free Shakespeare on the Common playbill, half-page ads in 2 regular season production playbills
  • Acknowledgement as Gold Sponsor in our press releases
  • 4 tickets to the pre-show reception on Opening Night of Free Shakespeare on the Common on July 24, 2019
  • 4 reserved chairs in our Friends Section on Opening Night of Free Shakespeare on the Common on July 24, 2019, plus 6 additional chairs to use at another performance date of your choice (July 17 – August 4, 2019)

OR 10 reserved chairs in our Friends Section at a performance of your choice (July 17 – August 4, 2019). Blackout dates may apply.

  • Your logo on all CSC 2019 gala web and social media pages, including our home page commshakes.org, our gala page, and on our Facebook gala page
  • Your logo on all CSC print materials for the 2019 Print media includes Save-the-Date cards, invitation, and all other gala collateral materials
  • Acknowledgement as Gold Sponsor from the podium at the gala, in our nightly pre-show announcement at Free Shakespeare on the Common, and special thanks from the stage at each performance of Free Shakespeare on the Common (18 performances)
  • A banner, provided by you, featuring your business on the Boston Common for 4 weeks
  • Invitations to other CSC events, including post-performance receptions to meet the artists

Bronze Sponsor             $5,000

  • Seating for 10 guests at the gala
  • Recognition as Bronze Sponsor in the gala program book
  • Full-page advertisement in the gala program book
  • 2 tickets to the pre-show reception on Opening Night of Free Shakespeare on the Common on July 24, 2019
  • 2 reserved chairs in our Friends Section at Free Shakespeare on the Common, on either Opening Night on July 24, 2019 or another performance of your choice (July 17 – August 4, 2019). Blackout dates may
  • Logo on gala-related web and social media pages, including our home page, org, our gala page, and on our Facebook gala page
  • Invitations to other CSC events, including post-performance receptions to meet the artists

2019 Gala Sponsor Benefits

Support for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Provided by

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