ANNUAL BENEFIT GALA 2023
to celebrate Lakeshore Player’s Platinum 70th season
Thursday, May 18, 2023
at the Hanifl Performing ARTS CENTER
hONORARY CHAIRS
hanifl foundation & osilas fOUNDATION
Reserve your seats today for a fun-filled evening of extraordinary performances, food and drinks, games, and a celebration of Lakeshore Players Theatre through the decades.
All proceeds benefit artistic and educational programs.
Attendance Opportunities
program-only ticket ~ $40
RSVP BY MONDAY MAY 15.
One guest admission starting at 7pm.
Cocktail hour with one complimentary.
beverage and passed hors d’oeuvres.Benefit concert program.
Piano bar afterparty access with desserts.
LPt Platinum TicketS ~ $250
THIS TICKET OPTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE BY CALLING THE BOX OFFICE: (651) 478-7427.
Two guests.
Unlimited complimentary beverages.
Dinner & dessert.
Reserved program seating.
Piano bar afterparty access.
Dinner Ticket ~ $100
THIS TICKET OPTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE BY CALLING THE BOX OFFICE: (651) 478-7427.
One guest.
One complimentary beverage.
Dinner & dessert.
Piano bar afterparty access.
Our Platinum & Gold Sponsorships are sold out for 2023! Scroll down For a list of our generous 2023 contributING SPONSORS.
Schedule of Events
5:30 PM
Cocktail Hour*
Silent Auction
Game Room
*Cocktail party admission for program-only ticketholders begins at 7:00 PM.
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Dinner by Donatelli’s
Vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free options
Full dinner menu featuring a variety of delicious dishes including smoked salmon, pasta, balsamic fig & goat cheese flatbread, bruschetta, vegetable skewers, & more!
7:30 PM
“Lakeshore Through the Decades” Concert
Live Auction
Fund- a-Need
Learn more about our performers below!
8:45 PM
Afterparty & Piano Bar
Drinks & Dessert
If you cannot join us, you may still participate virtually in our silent auction which goes live on May 11.
You may also donate to support our artistic and educational programs.
Thank you to our event Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor $2,500+
Kurt Johnson Auctioneering
frank mabley & jean kummerow
Gold Sponsors $1,500+
Dresen Restorative Dentistry
george & connie Aram
PREMIER BANK
Event Sponsor $500+
Wendy Gimpel Real estate
George & connie Aram
FRANK MABLEY & JEAN KUMMEROW
MEET THE PERFORMERS
Ronnie Allen
An accomplished singer and actor who has worked alongside renowned artists throughout his career. With a strong foundation in music, Ronnie was a former member of the 3x Grammy Award Winning Sounds of Blackness, showcasing his exceptional talent and versatility as a performer. He has also shared the stage with former Prince vocalist Shelby J. at the Twins Stadium and was a key performer in the Prince tribute at the Minnesota Timberwolves halftime show, impressing audiences with his dynamic stage presence and vocal abilities. Ronnie's recent theatrical work includes a powerful performance in the production We Shall Someday at Theater Latte Da, where he captivated audiences with his nuanced acting skills. Currently, Ronnie is eagerly anticipating the arrival of his daughter, as he continues to hone his craft and prepare for future projects.
Nikia Brown
Nikia returns to the Lakeshore stage after her turn as Ella Fitzgerald in last year’s An Evening with Ella & Harold. Returning home from being a Playlist Performer with Carnival cruise lines, Kia has found comfort in the "mini apple". Some of her work since coming home has been Marley in Old Log Theatre's production of Escape to Margaritaville, an original musical Cold Planet, Warm Heart with Nautilus Musical-Theater, or you can catch her at the Capri Theatre until June 4 as Charlaine in Ain't Misbehavin'!
Katherine Henly
Praised for her portrayals in genres ranging from opera, to musical theater, jazz, and pop throughout the United States and abroad, soprano Katherine Henly has performed with Oper Köln, LA Opera, Washington National Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Charlottesville Opera, Virginia Opera, The New York Musical Theatre Festival, The O’Neill National Music Theater Conference, and at The Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman.
As a soloist, Ms. Henly has performed with Utah Lyric Opera, Utah Valley Symphony Orchestra, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, The Ramsey Wind Symphony, Palisades Virtuosi, Worcester Symphony Orchestra, Camerata New York, and in concert at Mechanics Hall and Carnegie Hall. She made her off-Broadway debut as Elsa in Sheldon Harnick’s musical Dragons at The York Theatre Company, and can be heard on the studio recording with Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris.
The 2021-2022 season included her role debut as Musetta in Peter Rothstein’s critically acclaimed production of La bohème with Theater Latté Da in Minneapolis. The 2022-2023 season has seen a return to the concert stage with performances across the US, and her return to Norway for Glad Jul i Sand kirke in December.
The band
wesley frye
Wesley Frye is an in-demand tenor, collaborative pianist, and music director throughout the Twin Cities metro and beyond. Recently, he received second prize as a pianist in the Sparks and Wiry Cries songSLAM at the 2022 NATS Conference in Chicago, and was the resident tenor at Opera Naples in Florida. It was there he debuted roles in Pirates of Penzance, Tosca, and Glory Denied. Wesley is also the co-owner and operator of Frye Music Duo, an in-demand duo for weddings throughout the Upper Midwest.
Marissa frye
Marissa Frye is an in-demand performer and teacher in the upper Midwest. Residing in the Twin Cities with her husband Wesley (tenor & pianist), she is a full time freelance violist and violinist, and co-founder and owner of the “Frye Music Duo.” Her days are packed with a full studio of private students, as well as frequent performances and recording projects. She received her undergraduate degree in Viola Performance from Luther College, and holds a Masters of Music in Viola Performance from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
