Hats Off, Masks On! Fat Tuesday Luncheon
This year’s decadent, jazz-infused event will be held in honor of Santa Barbara’s own Oscar and Grammy award-winning lyricist Norman Gimbel, famous for penning the lyrics of classics like the “Girl From Ipanema” and “Killing Me Softly.” Hats and/or masks are encouraged at this festive Mardi Gras luncheon and party complete with beads, jazz, and a delicious Cajun-inspired menu. Entertainment will include jazz vocalist Connie Evingson performing Mr. Gimbels’ songs and ventriloquist Rob Watkins acting as Master of Ceremonies.
Proceeds benefit the Encore: Lobero campaign to renovate the Lobero Theatre. After 88 years, this grande dame could use a makeover, and the Lobero Theatre Associates aim to help.
Tickets for “Hats Off” are $125 and include lunch, raffle and entertainment. To purchase, contact Marianne Clark at (805) 966-4946 x 611 or mclark@lobero.com
Hats Off honoree Norman Gimbel is a renowned American lyricist of popular music, television and movie themes and theater songs. His award-winning hits include “Killing me Softly With His Song” for which Mr. Gimbel won a Grammy for Song of the Year, “The Girl From Ipanema” which The Wall Street Journal reported to be the second most recorded song of all time behind the Beatles “Yesterday,” and “Ready To Take A Chance Again” which became one of Mr. Gimbel’s four Academy Award-nominated songs and one of his four Golden Globe song nominations. Gimbel won the Oscar for “It Goes Like It Goes” written for the film Norma Rae. He also authored the theme songs to the television series Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Wonder Woman. Other successful compositions include “I Will Wait For You,” “Watch What Happens,” “Sway,” and “Canadian Sunset.” He has been a resident of Santa Barbara for over 25 years.
Hats Off featured performer, jazz vocalist Connie Evingson appears in theaters, concert halls and nightclubs across the U.S., Europe and Japan. She has performed with the Minnesota and Toronto Orchestras conducted by Doc Severinsen, and on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. Evingson has been featured on the Smithsonian’s Jazz Singers radio series, NPR’s Fresh Air, and numerous compilation discs including New Sirens of Song with Diana Krall, Stacy Kent, Janis Siegel and others. Her nine albums with Minnehaha Music have all charted in the Top 50 in U.S. and Canada jazz charts and can be heard on radio stations worldwide. She will perform selections from her latest release, Sweet Happy Life, which celebrates the lyrics of Santa Barbara resident Norman Gimbel.
Hats Off Master of Ceremonies, Rob Watkins, is a regular performer at the Hollywood Magic Castle, has appeared in a variety of comedy venues and most recently won the Audience Favorite Award as well as the Grand Prize at the McCallum Theater’s Open Call 2011. He also performed at Santa Barbara’s historic Lobero Theater last spring in It’s Magic! His show presents a blend of sleight of hand and sleight of mouth using the art of illusion and ventriloquism.
The Lobero Theatre is California’s oldest, continuously operating theatre. Originally founded in 1873 and rebuilt in 1924, it is recognized as one of Santa Barbara’s architectural jewels and a California and Santa Barbara landmark. In 1938, the Lobero Theatre Foundation was incorporated as a 501©(3) organization and to this day manages, maintains, preserves and programs the Lobero Theatre. In 1972 the Lobero Theatre Associates was founded to support the Lobero Theatre Foundation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Anne Wilder, Lobero Theatre Associates anne@annewilder.com, (805) 698-3884
TO PURCHASE HATS OFF LUNCHEON TICKETS, CONTACT: Marianne Clark, Lobero Theatre Foundation Annual Fund Director at mclark@lobero.com, (805) 966-4946 x 611
$125 Luncheon ticket
$250 One sponsor Ticket includes 5 raffle tickets,* premium seating and program acknowledgement.
$2500 sponsor Table of 8-10 includes 50 raffle tickets,* premium seating and program acknowledgement.
*raffle tickets are available to purchase by phone through Marianne clark at the Lobero Theatre Foundation office or at the Luncheon. Tickets cost $100 for a booklet of 5 or $25 each.