Theater kicks off 10th season

The CARE Initiative's fourth Las Faygas Texas Hold'em Tournament and Casino Night on Aug. 15 helped the group raise more than $35,000. The benefit featured craps, roulette, Black Jack and Texas Hold'em tables, with winnings in the form of prizes that included a 60-inch HD LED smart television, sound bar and other electronics.

The CARE Initiative focuses on children, awareness, responsibility and encouragement and helps support programs at local children's charities. It was started by Saatchi & Saatchi X employees. The groups being helped include EOA Children's House, Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County, Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Youth Bridge and Havenwood.

Those racking up winnings to benefit area children included Chad Holsinger, James Beck, Jacques Hagopian, Chad Cate, Nancy and Paul Hairston, Jim Cartwright, Karen and Bob Rogers, Ashley Niblett, Mariahh Beezley, Kathy Crisp, Amanda Rogers, Nancy Reynolds, Suzi Owens and Jolana Aibangbee.

TheatreSquared kicked off its 10th season with big news at its traditional kickoff party Aug. 18 poolside at the Fayetteville home of Denise and Hershey Garner. The professional theater group was recently awarded a $100,000 grant as part of the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town initiative and is "beginning the exploratory phase of building a new, permanent home for TheatreSquared," Bob Ford, theater artistic director, told the approximately 330 patrons gathered for the kickoff. The record-setting crowd contributed a record-setting $21,000 at the event.

Sean Patrick Reilly, Nate Stahlke and Courtneay Sanders, as Antonio Salieri, Amadeus Mozart and Constanze Weber, respectively, performed a scene from Amadeus, TheatreSquared's first production of the season. The play premiered Aug. 27 and will run through Sept. 20.

Poolside patrons kicking off the season with the theater group included Lynn Donald and Joel Carver, Butch and Roy Clinton, Pam Merritt, Julie Roblee, Gaye Cypert, Ann Rosso, Celia Boone, Barbara Putman and Peter Lane, Merlee Harrison, Lindsey and Brock Gearhart, Ann Marie Ziegler, Lindsey and Brock Gearhart, Jane and Dave Gearhart, Linda and Bob McMath, Deborah Thomas and David Malone and Mike Johnson.

Eight area professionals vied for the title of Homecoming Queen and King at A Cool Summer Homecoming on Aug. 22 at the Fayetteville Town Center. The Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life benefit drew more than 400 foundation supporters who helped raise an estimated $50,000.

Members of the homecoming court have been working for the past several weeks to raise the most money for the nonprofit organization whose mission is to "promote proper hydration and prevent heat illness through education and supporting activities."

Will James, University of Arkansas, and Jennifer Bedwell, Gatorade, took top honors as King and Queen. The court also consisted of Cindy Bryant, Lindt; Angie Donaghey, Nielsen; Tammy Huff, Walmart; Jack Hill, National Registered Paramedic; David McNeill, Warner Brothers Home Entertainment; and Branden Lee, 3B Media Group.

Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life supporters out for A Cool Summer Night included Amy Callahan and John Flynn, Meredith Wiktorowski, Dean Weber, Maureen and Brig Caldwell, Brendon McDermott, Lindsey and Dan Baril, Heather and Jason Foitek, Rhonda Fincher, Hailey Nance, Elin and Jason Tempel and Lisa Dumaine and Derick Bores.

For more event photos -- nwadg.com/photos/society.

Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].

NAN Profiles on 08/30/2015