The Greece Performing Arts Society (GPAS) kicks off its 50th anniversary in 2019 with two special concerts. The first concert, Puppy Love Cabaret, benefits Greece Residents Assisting Stray Pets (GRASP) and the second concert, Saturday Night Fever: Hits of the 1970s Concert, features disco favorites, popular songs, and musical selections from stage and screen.
The Puppy Love Cabaret: GPAS 50th Anniversary Special will be Saturday, February 23 at 7 p.m. at Greece Athena High School Forum Room, 800 Long Pond Road, Rochester. The concert will feature favorite hit songs from the 50s, 60s and beyond to finish out “the month of love.” General admission tickets will be $5 each at the door. Proceeds will benefit GRASP, another non-profit organization in the community.
Co-chairing this event are GPAS board members Hunter Ekberg and Hector Manuel, both frequently featured in various musicals and theater events throughout the greater Rochester area. Ekberg commented that GPAS is pleased to help raise money for GRASP and says “hopefully we (GPAS) will see a strengthening in our philanthropic relationship with the community in years to come.”
GRASP is a prominent pet adoption agency that finds forever homes for strays in our local community. GRASP has a “Pull Tab Collection Program” where pull tabs on pop cans are recycled and used to raise money to help take care of local animals. GPAS invites audience members to bring empty cans and tabs from home, as well as purchase soda from the GPAS concession stand at the performance.
The next GPAS 50th Anniversary Special will be Saturday Night Fever: Hits of the 1970s Concert on Saturday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at Greece Arcadia High School Auditorium, 120 Island Cottage Road, Rochester. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for students, and are available at the door or on-line at GreecePerformingArts.org.
This year’s gala performance will showcase four GPAS ensembles, including the Greece Choral Society directed by Dr. Rollo Fisher, the Greece Community Orchestra directed by Jonathan Allentoff, the Greece Concert Band directed by BJ Comer, and the Greece Jazz Band directed by Gary Samulski.
Allentoff, creative coordinator behind this special 50th Anniversary Concert said, “it is an honor to collaborate with fellow GPAS music directors and board members and to create a concert program filled with popular favorites for the entire family.” He plans to showcase many local performers of all ages. Allentoff commented that he is “proud to support the efforts of the GPAS, as all the GPAS groups continue to bring our community together through the arts.”
Eric Vaughn Johnson, GPAS President, encourages attendees to dress up with 70s disco outfits. “It’s all about having a good time and listening to some memorable music from a past decade proudly presented by four GPAS groups.”
For information visit GreecePerforming-Arts.org or call 234-5636.
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