Mac-Haydn Theatre officials termed the Gala 2011 ‘The Show Will Go On’, held Saturday night, a resounding success.  Artistic Director/Producer Lynne Haydn drew a standing ovation when she spoke to the crowd, praising them for their help and thanking all those who worked to put the event on.  “So many people worked so hard to make the evening a success,” Ms. Haydn added. 

           
The Gala committee included Ms. Haydn, Marcy Coalter, who originated the idea, Monica M. Wemitt, Jesse DeGroodt, Michele Lindsay and Barbara Peduzzi.
           
Celebrities present were David Allan of WABY Radio and Ben Patten of WROW, who announced the entertainers. Jay Scott, who with Mr. Patten hosts “Jay and Ben in the Morning,” and Town of Chatham Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt read winners in of silent auction items. 
           
Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, of the 108th District, and Chris Gibson, 20th District Congressman, both of whom represent Chatham, stopped by to greet the group, both saying how much they appreciate the importance of The Mac-Haydn Theatre to their areas. Both were on their way home from pledging their help in the flood-devastated Schoharie area.  
           
Sponsors of The Show Will Go On: First Niagara Bank, Metz-Wood-Harder Insurance, Herrington’s Lumber, Kinderhook Bank and Stewart’s. 
           
Donations of goods and services: Carman Barbato, Callender’s Nursery, Charron’s, Chatham Brewery, Chatham Flowers, Chatham Liquors, Dianne Ives, Drome Sound, NAPA Auto Parts, Park Row Gallery, Chatham Printing & Copy Center, Staples Copy & Print Center, East Chatham Wine & Spirits, Staron’s Farm Stand, The Farm at Miller’s Crossing, Hudson-Chatham Winery, Chuck Maurer, Mike Naughton/Yankee Doodle Circus, Sam’s Club, Samascott’s Farm Stand, Spencertown Fire Department, Stewart’s and Wild Horse Liquors.
           
Fabulous food was a high point of the evening: appetizers prepared and donated by Abby Shook, Cindy Jablanski and Carol French; catered dinner by the Kinderhook Elks Lodge under the direction of head chefs Joel Dyslin and Jerry Shook; donated desserts organized by Dianne Ives and baked by Fay Antalek, Renee Ashdown, Jeanne Dubois, Terri Engel, Ms. Ives, Millie Hotaling, Carol Kelley, Jean Kimber, Karen Leggett, Joanne Maurer, Joanne Nanos and Sonia Roosa.
 
Food service coordinators Skip and Joan Spateholts led volunteers: Fay & Jim Antalek, Renee and Len Ashdown, Donna and Ed Bemiss, Glenn Balli, Lee Coalter, Terri Engel, Millie Hotaling, Eddie Knight, Zack Marshall, Lindsay Meyers, the Pearson Family, Diane Sheppard, Emily and Krystle Spateholts and Heather Stanley.

Entertainment, coordinated by Monica M. Wemitt, brought another standing ovation when the performers ended their part of the evening with Mac-Haydn’s long time theme song “The Impossible Dream”.  Those who came back to Chatham to sing for the appreciative crowd included Franco Spoto, Kellyn Uhl, Kelly L. Shook, Richard Schwartz, Andrea Dotto, Colin Pritchard, Karla Shook, Andrew Hasegawa, John Saunders, Robert Anthony Jones, Kathy Halenda, Ms. Wemitt, David Carpenter-Beditz, Rob Richardson and Frederic Norbert.
 
Other committee heads were: Decorations: Michele Lindsay, Mac-Haydn Memorabilia: Jesse DeGroodt, Silent Auction: Marcy Coalter, Barbara Peduzzi, Jesse DeGroodt and Karen Leggett, Promotion: Mr. DeGroodt and Ms. Lindsay, and Reservations Coordination: Dee Lashway, who also was an auction cashier, helped by Muriel Faxon.

Helping with all parts of the event: Donna & Ed Bemiss, Carol French, Carol Goold, Cindy Jablanski, Karen, Rick, Stephen & Brian Leggett, Chuck & Joanne Maurer, Tami Mullins, Betsy Palladino, Bonnie Rowen, Abby Shook, Skip, Joan, Krystle and Emmy Spateholts and Gail Walczanski.

Stage lighting for the entertainment was provided by Andrew Gmoser/Silent G Productions, and operated by Patrick Leminski.  Sound equipment was donated by Capital Repertory Theatre and Drome Sound and run by Luke Krauss.

Silent Auction  Donors: Blue Stores Hotel, Livingston; Capital Bakery, Baltimore, MD; Carolyn’s Village Restaurant, Chatham; Donna’s - A Country Grill, East Chatham; The Grainery, Chatham; Jackson’s Old Chatham House, Old Chatham; Kozels, West Ghent; Lippera’s, Chatham; MJ’s Sports Bar, Chatham; Our Daily Bread, Chatham; Ralph’s Pretty Good Café, Chatham; The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, MA; The Restaurant at Lyons Lake, Nassau; Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany; Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes; Columbia Arts Team, Hillsdale; Crandall Theater, Chatham; Ghent Playhouse, Ghent; The Mac-Haydn Theatre, Chatham; Mahawie Theatre, Great Barrington, MA; NETworks Touring Company; Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady; Theatre Barn, New Lebanon; Stageworks, Hudson; Two of Us Productions; Walking The Dog Theatre, Hudson; Bindlestiff Family Circus, Hudson;   
Catamount Ski Area, Hillsdale; David Allan, Albany.

Also Banner Clothing, Chatham; Brown’s Emporium, Chatham; Cow Jones Industrial Vegan Boutique, Chatham; Pat Barden, Spencertown; R.Van Alstyne Fine Jewelers, Chatham; Jeanne & Larry Dubois; Marie Fischer, Boston, MA; St. Joseph’s Center, Valatie; Jean Strong & Joseph Reid, Chatham; Teresa Fischer, Belchertown, MA; Bonnie Johnson, Hudson; Mary Ann Davis, Spencertown;  Karla & Kelly Shook; Scott M. Fischer, Belchertown, MA; Foofsique Quilting Emporium, Chatham; Jimm Halliday, Kinderhook; Sharon & Rod Abele; Chatham Kids, Chatham; Barbara Peduzzi, Chatham; Banner Clothing, Chatham; Clocktower Toys, Chatham; Chatham Press, Chatham; Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Whitman, Albany; Yankee Trails, Albany; The Healthy Place/Ford Franklin DC, Red Hook; Main Care, Chatham; Minding Your Manor, Chatham; American Pie, Chatham; Abele Tractor & Equipment Co, Albany; and Hudson-Chatham Winery, Ghent.