Single Carrot Theatre Celebrates 5 Years With Western-Themed Gala Tonight, 5/12

Single Carrot Theatre is opening its doors for its sixth annual gala. This year's theme? Gold Rush. "We thought it was appropriate," says gala committee member Jessica Garrett. "They certainly knew how to party in the old west, and so do we. Why not take the theme and run with it?" she added.

Like most Single Carrot Theatre parties, it's really all about the food and drink. Joe Edwardsen, proprietor of award-winning Joe Squared, will be on-hand to cater the event, personally. "I'm always blown away by how Joe's specialty menu reinforces the theme, and takes it to the next level. He never stops at just catering, it's always a step far above and beyond", said gala committee member and Single Carrot Theatre Managing Director Elliott Rauh.  No kidding: this years menu is a near exact replica of a late 19^th Century Governors Ball menu, all with Edwardsen there to personally serve it up. Like all of Single Carrot Theatre's galas, this year's event will feature a signature cocktail that compliments the theme concocted by Woodberry Kitchen bartender Connor Rasmussen. With cocktail music from favorite local band The Manly Deeds, and dance music going into the night from The Moonlighters, the music is also a huge focus of the event.

Because a theatre company produces the event, the folks at Single Carrot Theatre thought they would be remiss without including a few theatrics to spice up the evening. "Guests will be ushered by various old west characters, in very unexpected ways", says the theatrics' director Aldo Pantoja. "The atmosphere will be a through line, catapulting guests from one thing to another. Local performers are coming together to really showcase the western feel".

The company acknowledges this event's purpose is to raise money. "The Education Department at Single Carrot Theatre has grown so large under the helm of  [Education Director] Giti Jabaily, that the funds from the gala go a long way to keeping all of those wonderful programs not just breathing, but thriving", says Garrett. "Education is an integral part of the culture at Single Carrot Theatre, and the gala is an integral part of securing the funds to make that happen", she added. How will they do it? For that, it's all about the silent and live auctions. Highlights of the silent auction range from the best wines California vineyards have to offer, to week-long stays at beach houses, to items put forward by "Carrots" themselves. The live auctioneer will be none other than local business owner and man-about-town "Downtown" Kevin Brown. As for the items in the live auction, "You'll have to come find out for yourself", says Garrett.