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ILLUSTRATION/APPELL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Appell Center’s fundraising celebration returns to Strand Theatre
Listen to this articleThe Appell Center for the Performing Arts‘ signature fundraising celebration is returning to the Strand Theater in downtown York.
GALAvant 1925, the sixth iteration of its fundraising celebration, will be held Saturday, May 9. Past GALAvant themes have included Casablanca, Moulin Rouge, Mardi Gras, and the 1980s. This year’s GALAvant theme is 1925, drawing inspiration from the year the Strand Theatre first opened in York and serving as a final bow to the theatre’s Centennial Anniversary Season.
According to a release, since launching in 2017, GALAvant has brought supporters of the arts together for a theatrical evening of live entertainment, immersive decor and interactive experiences. As a nonprofit organization, proceeds from the event help the Appell Center bring stage performances to York and make arts education more accessible.
Appell Center Director of Development Mindi Haines has served as creative lead on this event since inception.
“GALAvant is not a sit-down event—it’s a big, lively party,” Haines said in a statement. “It’s playful, creative and full of surprises—but at the end of the day, it’s really about people coming together to support something they love. And once you come to GALAvant once, you’ll want to come again.”
GALAvant guests are invited to explore the historic theatre in a new way—discovering Roaring Twenties-era influences, vintage-inspired spaces, and a variety of themed activities throughout the building, per the release. Guests are encouraged to dress in themed attire and the evening will feature live music from York’s Uptown Band.
This year’s GALAvant event will include the addition of both a silent auction and a Fund a Need initiative benefiting the Appell Center’s Education Endowment Fund. This endowment fund was designed to offer long-term support for the organization’s growing list of arts education programs like Stage the Page, Tot Rock, Antonio’s Imagination Hour, Dance Lab, summer camps, and more.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for GALAvant 1925 are available.
