By Mark Ambrogi
There will be more than a little touch of New Orleans at Carmel’s Woodland Country Club Feb. 20.
The Actors Theatre of Indiana Guild will host the 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Gala from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Susan Bonanno, president of ATI Guild, said they came up with the theme of a Mardi Gras party last year when they decided to do something more fun than just dressing up for a formal gala.
“The year before my husband and I had been in New Orleans during Mardi Gras,” Bonanno said. “We were in the parade and threw beads.”
Bonanno said it’s a very casual event.
“You can wear jeans or fun shirts,” Bonanno said. “People come dressed with masks.”
The ATI Guild members decorate the room with a Mardi Gras theme. There will be complimentary Hurricanes and Hors d’oeuvres for the first hour, following a by sit-down dinner and dancing. The Tim Brickley Quintet will provide the music. The ATI founders, Don Farrell, Judy Fitzgerald and Cynthia Collins, will sing at least one song, perhaps more, Bonanno said.
There will be a wine pull, beer raffle, games and silent auction. All proceeds from the fundraiser go to ATI.
“We’ll have a king cake and in the tradition of New Orleans and whoever gets the (tiny toy) baby (in their cake piece) will be king or queen of the party,” Bonanno said.
The other Guild members are Maryjo Alonso, Charlene Arnott, Sarah Clark, Therese Coffey, Janet Daniels, Tricia Hackett, Deb Hermiller, Donna Jacobi, Natalie Manges, Lisa Meyers, Sally Myers, Leslie Oleck, Sue Pearson, Becky Pritchett and Susan Wiland.
Bonanno said all the Guild members devote months to make sure decorations are set for the event.
Tickets for the party are $100 each. Tables of 10 for $1,000 and tables of eight for $800 are available. Current Publishing serves as a media sponsor of the event. For reservations, visit atistage.org.
