Inductees include Sinatra, Minnelli, Moreno and Webb Celebration expands to include Friday, Saturday Silent and live auction added to festivities
The Center for the Performing Arts and the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative announce an expanded weekend lineup for the annual fundraising gala. The 2013 Encore Celebration Gala Weekend presented by Krieg DeVault is now two nights – Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29. The Friday evening event, at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis, includes a cocktail reception, dinner, auction and dancing, with the Saturday evening Songbook Hall of Fame performance and induction ceremony at the Palladium in Carmel. The live and silent auction also is a new addition to the annual event.
The Saturday evening of the gala weekend will feature Michael Feinstein as he inducts a new round of honorees as part of the Songbook Hall of Fame. The star-studded ceremony will honor the musical contributions of Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Rita Moreno and Jimmy Webb. Conceived as an enduring testament to the Great American Songbook’s artistic contributors, the Hall of Fame honors lyricists, composers and performers responsible for creating America’s soundtrack. Saturday evening will include a pre-show cocktail reception and post-show after party.
Feinstein, the Initiative’s founder and noted American Songbook ambassador, said the 2013 celebration builds on the Initiative’s goals. “We intentionally created the Hall of Fame to honor our country’s songwriters and artists,” said Feinstein, who also serves as the Center for the Performing Arts artistic director. “Sharing their music and recognizing their contributions ensures that our heritage endures for generations to come.”
The 2013 awards include:
Legend: Awarded posthumously to an artist who made a significant contribution to the Golden Age of American popular music, typically defined as the period from the early years of the 20th century through the 1960s. Inductees: Frank Sinatra, 2013; Cole Porter, 2012.
Songbook: Awarded to living songwriters, both lyricists and composers, who have made a significant impact on American pop culture by creating the most beloved songs from the American popular songbook. Inductees: Jimmy Webb, 2013; Alan and Marilyn Bergman, 2012.
New Standard: Awarded to the artist, songwriter and/or performer, who continues to create the soundtrack of our lives by writing and/or performing music that will stand the test of time and become the pop standards of tomorrow. Inductee: Liza Minnelli, 2013; Rita Moreno, 2013; Barry Manilow, 2012.
The gala weekend and Songbook Hall of Fame ceremony is presented by Krieg DeVault, First Merchants Bank and Katz, Sapper & Miller LLP, with support from Tom Wood Jaguar and Tom Wood Land Rover. The silent and live auction on Friday, June 28 will allow guests to bid on vacation packages, exotic trips, unique experiences and one-of-a-kind memorabilia from artists seen at the Palladium. All proceeds will benefit the Center for the Performing Arts. Preview auction items and online bidding starts in mid-June at the Center’s website.
For details on table reservations or individual tickets, call Laura Varnau at 317-819-3521. Patron table for 10 is $5,000. Celebrity Circle tables are $7,500. Single tickets are $500 and are on sale now. Information is available online at www.TheCenterPresents.org. Tickets are sold as a package and include admission to all events on both evenings.