Last spring members of the Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson unanimously voted to make a lead gift of $20,000 to the Tarrytown Music Hall for a new air-conditioning system after the original unit failed.
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L to R: Karen Hennessy, Deb Smith, Björn Olsson and Karina Ringeisen |
The Music Hall has since raised $100,000 of the $207,282 project thanks to additional contributions ranging between $1000 and $40,000 from Lucy R. Waletzky M.D., The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, The Rotary Club of the Tarrytowns and several individuals. The theater is now cool, but the project has placed a serious dent in the Music Hall’s budget, especially as it comes a year after the $2,000,000 purchase of the property behind the theater that was secured for parking and future expansion. The Junior League challenges people and organizations in the community to match its donation! The goal is for the A/C system to be paid for before the Music Hall’s Gala on November 1, 2008. Tax-deductible donations may be made online at www.tarrytownmusichall.org or by check which should be sent to 13 Main Street, PO Box 686, Tarrytown, NY 10591.
The Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson (JLWOH) is a women’s service organization committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Since its inception as the Hudson River Service League in 1932, the JLWOH, located at 35 South Broadway, Tarrytown, has been a catalyst for positive change and a force for making a difference on a community level. Open Door Family Medical Centers, Career Closet, New Beginnings, Art in the Park, The Nearly New Shop, Tot Drop at the Family YMCA at Tarrytown, the Irvington Town Hall Theatre Restoration, Donald R. Reed Speech Center and Interracial Women’s Leadership Roundtable are just a few examples of JLWOH past projects and initiatives that are now integral community resources, because JLWOH members pinpointed a need and then dedicated themselves to doing whatever was necessary to fill those needs. Most recently, winter through spring 2008, JLWOH hosted the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center while the MTA made repairs to the train tracks by their Philipse Manor Station headquarters. Women making a difference – that’s the Junior League! Women building better communities – that’s the Junior League! To find out more about the Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson visit www.jlwoh.org
While the Junior League’s challenge to the community focuses on a capital improvement that is essential for the theater’s operations, the fundraiser on Saturday, November 1 – the Music Hall’s First Annual – will benefit programming. The Gala Performance, featuring vocalist Linda Eder, will begin at 7pm at the Music Hall. A Gala Party with cocktails, a buffet, music, and flowers graciously provided by Diana Gould Ltd., will follow at 8:30pm at the Doubletree Tarrytown Hotel. The Music Hall appreciates the generous support of its Lead Sponsor, M&T Bank, and Supporting Sponsors: Allan Block Insurance Agency, MetLife, Pernod Ricard, Total Teen Productions, and Whitney Singleton Esq. Premium seats for the concert (includes party tickets) are $225; "Show Only" tickets are $65 (orchestra) and $45 (balcony); "Party Only" tickets are $140. Tickets may be purchased online at www.tarrytownmusichall.org or by phone at 877-840-0457. A marketing opportunity is available in "The Music Hall Guide," a program book that will be distributed at the Gala and for six months afterwards, and will be available by emailing: guide@tarrytownmusichall.org.
The Tarrytown Music Hall is committed to presenting first class live events and films for the general public and to providing children and youth of all economic and social backgrounds access to Music Hall programs. The Music Hall serves more than 80,000 patrons a year from all over the tri-state area and is Westchester‚Äôs premier venue for children’s theater, welcoming over 30,000 children on an annual basis. It supports and subsidizes performances for school children, a resident youth theater company, and local not-for-profit arts organizations. The Music Hall is also dedicated to preserving and restoring the 843-seat theater for future generations. Built in 1885, the Music Hall is listed on the National Register for Historic Places and is Westchester’s oldest theater. The Music Hall is a recent recipient of the Westchester Arts Council‚Äôs 2007 Arts Award. In July 2008, it was voted the “Best Music Venue” by the editor of the Westchester Magazine and the “Best Theater” and “Best Kids’ Theater” by readers of the Magazine. It was also one of seven establishments to be listed as the "Very, Very Best of Westchester" on the Wall of Fame page.
