Actress, Singer, Songwriter Kathie Lee Gifford to Emcee August 21 Gala
During The Bowie Center For The Performing Arts
Opening Gala Week, August 14-21, 2004
Gifford Joins Tony and Emmy Award Winner Leslie Uggams, Smooth Jazz
Recording Artist Gregg Karukas and Others As Bowie Celebrates A Dream More
Than A Decade In the Making
Bowie, Maryland, July 14, 2004 - Kathie Lee Gifford, a Bowie High School
alumnus and longtime supporter of the project to build a world-class arts
center in her hometown of Bowie, MD, has joined the roster of Gala Opening
Week Performers at the long-anticipated opening of the Bowie Center for
the Performing Arts, a state-of-the-art facility located adjacent to Bowie
High School. The Gala Opening week takes place August 14 - 21, 2004. The
announcement was made today by representatives of the Bowie Regional Arts
Vision Association (BRAVA). Ms. Gifford will serve as the eveningıs
Mistress of Ceremonies for the star-studded Gala Celebration Saturday,
August 21.
From the conception of BRAVA, Kathie saw the vision for The Bowie Center
for the Performing Arts and was one of the first private donors. As an
Honorary Board Member of BRAVA, she never said no to any request for
assistance. BRAVA is most proud of our relationship with Kathie and is
pleased she will be joining us for this Gala opening,² said Mary Nusser,
BRAVA Vice President.
Kathie is a proud Bowie High alumnus, class of 1971. Since leaving Bowie
High she has remained in contact with her alma mater. Nusser added. ³As a
former cheerleader, she helped those who followed in her foot steps with
various fund raising efforts over the years including their appearance on
her show Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee.²
The week of programming will feature a diverse mix that begins with the
opening ceremonies and concludes on Saturday August 21 with a star-studded
Gala celebration featuring performances by entertainer Leslie Uggams, of
Broadwayıs Thoroughly Modern Millie and notable Bowie High School alumni
including acclaimed Smooth Jazz Recording Artist Gregg Karukas, (Bowie High
Class of 1974) recently featured on the television series Charmed, singer
Michie Epstein Mader (Bowie High, Class of 1973), and a tribute to the late
vocalist Eva Cassidy (Bowie High, Class of 1981). Additional celebrity
performers are also expected.
The lineup for the week includes events such as Opening ceremonies and
Luncheon, A Classical Evening, Celebrate America!, The Art of the Dance; The
Power of Voice and Music, Musical Theatre Performance for Children of All
Ages, a Childrenıs Art Camp, and an ongoing art exhibition.
The Gala Week Celebration is a showcase of the arts as well as a time for
the community to rejoice and explore this wonderful new jewel that is the
BCPA. Volunteer committees are expending thousands of hours in pulling
together the best and most diverse lineup of performers possible that truly
celebrate the best artists that the Bowie region has to offer.
Ticket sales for the week of events begin July 22. Tickets for the Gala
Celebration on Saturday, August 21 are $100 and available online at
www.bowieartscenter.com or by calling 301.805.0288 between 4 pm. and 8
p.m.
The BCPA, located on Annapolis Road (RT. 450), has been developed over the
past decade and funded by a variety of sources. The City of Bowie was the
first to provide funding in 1995. Additional funding was provided by the
State of Maryland, Prince Georgeıs County, Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, private donations, and the Federal Government, for
a total of $13.6 million to build the 800-seat facility.
In 1995, the Bowie Regional Arts Vision Association, Inc. (BRAVA) was
created to promote the design, development, funding and creation of a
regional arts facility. BRAVAıs vision of a world-class facility that would
be the hub for performing arts, not just for Bowie, but for the entire
region has finally become a reality. The opening gala week will be a
celebration of the efforts and dedication of the many individuals who have
labored over the past decade to make this dream a reality.
About Bowie Regional Arts Vision Association, Inc. (BRAVA)
BRAVA was created to promote the design, development, funding and creation
of a regional arts facility in Bowie, Maryland, for use by children,
families, and adults in classes, stage crafts, workshops, concerts, creative
arts, theatre programs, musical performances, drama therapy and other
therapy groups, providing functional space for large group assemblies,
instructional lectures, performances, demonstrations and forum discussions.
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