MIAMI CITY BALLET TO CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA WITH THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS LOVE STORY

“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! / For I ne’er saw true beauty ‘till this night.” (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet).  Never will Miami see an evening of true beauty, glamour and passion than on March 25, 2011 when Miami City Ballet (MCB) celebrates 25 years of artistic excellence with the Company Premiere of John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet  and the city’s most inspired black-tie gala.

Hosted by Gala Grand Honorary Chairmen, Gerri and Bennett LeBow, along with MCB Founding Artistic Director and CEO, Edward Villella, the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, and dedicated in honor of one of the very first supporters, the late Charlotte Breyer Rodgers, the enchanted evening will bring “star crossed lovers” together with the most devoted supporters, whose ongoing adoration for MCB has vaulted the Company to extraordinary heights for over two shining decades.

Members of the gala committee have been steadfast in their efforts to make the 25th anniversary gala a success. They include: International Honorary Chairmen, Ophelia and Juan Js. Roca; Honorary Gala Chairmen, Audre Mendel Carlin and MCB Founder Toby Lerner Ansin; Gala Chairmen, Bobi and James Eroncig; Gala Co-Chairmen, Nancy Jean Davis, Swanee and Paul DiMare, Lora and Fred Drasner, Michelle and Larry Herbert, Roni and Sam Jacobson, Renée Delaplaine and Thomas Rodgers, Diane and Irving Siegel; and host committee members Ana-Marie and Robert Barlick, Martaligia and Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Ella Fontanals Cisneros, Mariela and Victor Cisneros-Mestre, Susan and James Dubin, Margaret and Mike Eidson, Charlene and Ron Esserman, Kira and Neil Flanzraich, Marvin Ross Friedman and Adrienne Fleur bon Haes, Darla and John Karlton, Jacqui and Irwin Kott, Susan D. Kronick and Edmund Manno Shumsky, Pamela Garrison, and R. Kirk Landon.

Festivities will swing into action at 5:30 p.m. in the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Peacock Rehearsal Studio with an exclusive pre-performance VIP cocktail reception hosted by GRAFF, renowned for the most beautiful diamonds in the world. At 7 p.m., patrons will take to the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House for the Company Premiere of John Cranko’s full-length production of Romeo and Juliet. Afterwards, guests will dine on the culinary creations of Barton G, while toasting the ballet with champagne donated by Bacardi, The Official Liquor Sponsor of the 25th Anniversary Season, and dancing well into the night.

“I am profoundly grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this significant milestone,” said Villella. “The 25th Anniversary Gala brings together the people whose love for the ballet runs as deep as my own. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to Gerri and Bennet LeBow for their generous donation on this momentous occasion.”

Miami City Ballet is especially grateful to its sponsors which include: Selecta Magazine as the official media sponsor providing guests with the March 2011 issue featuring MCB on the cover; GRAFF Diamonds as the official host of the cocktail hour and VIP reception; Bacardi as the official liquor sponsor providing the champagne, wine and alcohol for the VIP Reception and Gala dinner; Frances and Eugenio Sevilla-Sacasa for sponsoring the music for the Gala dinner. Neiman Marcus, for donating gifts; Steinway Piano Gallery, Miami for donating a grand piano for use at the VIP Reception; and Faucon, Paris for donating chocolate after-dinner treats for guests.

Gala tables are selling quickly.  Make your reservations now for one of Miami’s biggest, and most exciting social events of the season. Tickets are $2,500 each and tables of 10 are available for $25,000. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, contact Miami City Ballet Development Operations Manager, Anne-Camille Hersh, at (305) 929-7000 Ext. 1422, or anne-camille@miamicityballet.org.

For Romeo & Juliet performance only tickets, call (305) 929-7010 or toll free (877) 929-7010 or visit miamicityballet.org.

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