Arizona Theatre Company's Gala 2008 honors John Hudak
Glittering fundraiser for ATC’s education and community programs
For the past sixteen years, Arizona Theatre
Company’s annual Gala has launched the Tucson arts season and has
become a glittering local tradition. ATC celebrates the
2008-2009 Season on Saturday, September 27, 2008 with its seventeenth
annual Gala at the historic Temple of Music and Art. Dine and dance
under the stars with ATC artists, supporters and staff after a special
performance of Enchanted April.
Co-chairs for Gala 2008 are Beth Bank, Financial
Advisor with Merrill Lynch, and Amy Courson of Strickland and
Strickland, P.C. Committee members include: Jill Becker, Betsy Bolding,
Kendra Conners, Jan Copeland, Kate Garner, Laurie Glaser, Robert Glaser,
Patricia Hanna, Donna Haskell, Tori Congdon Hill, Marv Kirchler, Rhonda
Knotts, Jill Madden, Susan McAnally, Claudine Messing, Brianne Moore,
Linda “Mac” Perlich, Emily Rosenberg Pollock, John and Helen Schaefer,
Bill Smith, Clague and Sally Van Slyke, and Arlene Webster.
The evening begins at 5:00 PM with a wine and hors d’oeuvres
reception in the courtyard of the Temple of Music and Art, located at
330 S. Scott Avenue in downtown Tucson, followed by the Gala performance
of Enchanted April by Matthew Barber from the novel by Elizabeth von
Arnim. After the performance, attendees will enjoy dinner by Carte
Blanche Catering and dancing to the sounds of Joe Bourne and Friends.
To those who appreciate wisteria and sunshine. Small castle on
the Mediterranean, Northern Italy, to be let for the month of
April. That simple newspaper notice seduces a quartet of British
women to rent a villa for one blissful spring in 1921, where their lives
of ordered regularity blossom into glorious disarray. Seduced by
cinnamon breezes, they learn to let their hair, and their guards, down
and awaken to the simple joys of friendship, love and marriage. A
Tony-nominated Broadway hit based on the best-selling novel, Enchanted
April is a heartwarming, verdant comedy about the romantic rediscovery
of life's enchantments. “A lush, thoroughly refreshing theatrical
holiday. A magical triumph.” - LA Times.
This year, ATC will honor John Hudak with the 2008 Georgy
Award, named after longtime Tucsonan and ATC Trustee Emeritus George
Rosenberg. The Georgy Award is presented annually to recognize the
significant impact that certain individuals or organizations have had on
ATC and on the arts in Arizona.
John Hudak first joined Madden Media, then Madden Publishing,
in 1987 as the first editor of Tucson Guide when there were just five
employees and two magazines. Today, the company has more than 100
employees and works with 60 destination marketing organizations to
promote tourism in 36 states. The company’s award-winning
publications and marketing campaigns reach more than 120 million
consumers annually. Mr. Hudak has contributed significantly to the
company's impressive growth. As Publisher, John is the top authority to
the company’s editing, design, and advertising teams. During his decades
at Madden, Mr. Hudak has shaped the editorial missions of Madden’s
local publications, such as Tucson HOME Magazine and Tucson Guide, and
the company’s direction as a whole.
After graduating from the University of Arizona, Mr. Hudak
helped start the Annual Tucson Poetry Festival, which just celebrated
its 26th annual festival. Mr. Hudak then became very active in the
Downtown Tucson art scene of the 1980’s and helped found the Downtown
Arts District Partnership, and the Tucson Arts Coalition with the sole
purpose of maintaining affordable opportunities for artists to live and
work in Downtown Tucson. It was this organization that Mr. Hudak
became the spokesperson and chairman of the campaign to “Save the Temple
of Music and Art” from demolition.
Mr. Hudak was twice appointed by the Governor to serve as a
Commissioner for the Arizona Commission on the Arts. He was
recently honored by the Tucson Pima Arts Council when he won the
prestigious 2008 Lumie Award for Arts Supporter. The Lumie Award
is given each year by the Tucson Pima Arts Council to honor
individual efforts in supporting the arts in Pima County. Mr.
Hudak was also honored this year by the Tucson Advertising Federation
with the Golden Pen Award, which is given each year to an outstanding
professional in the print advertising community of Southern Arizona.
A complete biography for John Hudak, Beth Bank and Amy Courson
can be found at:
http://aztheatreco.org/documents/08-09_ATC_Gala_Bios.pdf.
Arizona Theatre Company’s Gala 2008 is its major fundraiser of
the year to support education and community-based programs that enhance
the theatre experience and foster artists and audiences for the future.
Generous support for this event has been provided by The Jim Click
Automotive Team, and Joan and Donald Diamond as Platinum Sponsors; and
Paul and Alice Baker, and Wells Fargo as Gold Sponsors.
Tickets for this black tie event are available for $200 each or
a table of ten for $2000. Reservations and ticket purchases can be made
by calling Marcia Scupin at 520.884.8210 x 8303.
