A Noise Within’s 25th Anniversary Gala, A Recap

On Saturday Night at the Anniversary Gala, commemorating the 25th season of A Noise Within, L.A.’s classical repertory theatre company held at the California Club on April 29, honored The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Ahmanson Foundation, and Verbum Dei High School.

Several hundred donors, board members, subscribers, Resident Artists and other supporters packed multiple rooms at the fashionable downtown club for an evening of dining, celebration and performance that raised over $275,000, the record for a single funding event for the acclaimed non profit theater and its many education programs.

Co-Producing Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott said, “An event celebrating the long term support of The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Ahmanson Foundation, and Verbum Dei High School, not just to our organization but to the entirety of our geographic area, illustrates to us the remarkable output of generosity and generosity of spirit that completely permeates our community.”

Geoff Elliott said, “Our most successful art asks our community to question beliefs, focus on relationships, and develop self-awareness. The entire evening was not just a celebration of our 25th, but a celebration of fully engaged supporters and funders that have the idea of building community together through theatre – and an engagement with this most visceral and primal of storytelling techniques.”

More about the A Noise Within Anniversary Gala

A Noise Within honored The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation with the inaugural Community Matters Award. The Community Matters award recognizes an exemplary partner who is committed to promoting the wellbeing of the entire community.

Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, Co-Producing Artistic Director of A Noise Within, said, “The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation has consistently provided critical core operating support which has been instrumental in helping ANW to fulfill its mission. In addition to being such an ardent champion and advocate of our work, this award also recognizes all that they have done to improve the broad fabric of the entire Southern California Community. We can’t imagine celebrating without them.”

The Ahmanson Foundation was honored with the inaugural Chuck and Bette Redmond Legacy Award. Named after A Noise Within’s first and most ardent champions, the Chuck and Bette Redmond Legacy Award recognizes the extraordinary generosity of a supporter that continues to impact A Noise Within.

“Chuck and Bette Redmond were among our earliest and most ardent supporters, and their passion and generosity continues to bolster A Noise Within,” said Rodriguez-Elliott. “We can’t think of a better recipient for this award. The Ahmanson Foundation has impacted ANW in much the same way as Chuck and Bette. This award recognizes all that they have done for ANW, for Pasadena, and the greater Los Angeles area. Their organization has proved to be a true supporter not only for the arts, but also for theatre education, which is central to our mission at ANW. The Ahmanson Foundation does remarkable work in increasing the quality of life in Southern California, as well as bolstering the cultural legacy of the region.”

Verbum Dei High School was honored with the inaugural Outstanding Educational Partner Award, given to a school or teacher that has been an outstanding partner to A Noise Within with its contribution to continuing the importance of arts education. “Arts education is such an important component of the ANW Mission,” said ANW Director of Education and Community Outreach, Alicia Green. “Verbum Dei’s continued support and belief in the value of theatre in a student’s education embodies this vision completely. By passing the tradition along from parent to child, this legacy has continued and we look forward to continuing this incredible relationship for years to come.”

A Noise Within, celebrating its 25th Anniversary during the 2016-17 season, was recently named “one of the nation’s premier classical repertory companies” by The Huffington Post, and is a leading regional producer based in Pasadena. ANW produces classic theatre as an essential means to enrich the community by embracing universal human experiences, expanding personal awareness, and challenging individual perspectives.

The company of resident and guest artists performing in rotating repertory immerses student and general audiences in timeless, epic stories in an intimate setting, their state-of-the-art, 283-seat performing space.

This venue, established in 2011, has allowed ANW to expand its audience, surpassing its previous box office and attendance records each year. In addition to producing world-class performances of classical theatre, the organization runs robust education programs committed to inspiring diverse audiences of all ages. Helmed by Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, who hold MFAs from San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre, A Noise Within truly delivers Classic Theatre, Modern Magic.

In the past quarter-century, ANW has presented some 166 main stage productions, a challenging repertoire devoted to bringing classic plays to life in fully realized, full-bodied productions, garnering four LA Stage Ovation Awards (out of 31 nominations) and nearly 30 Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, including the Polly Warfield Award for Excellence and the Margaret Harford Award for Distinguished Achievement. In 2012, American Conservatory Theater honored ANW Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott with their inaugural alumni “Contributions to the Field” Award.

25th Anniversary Gala Honorary Committee: Annette Bening, Claire & Bill Bogaard, The De Pietro Family, Kathleen & James Drummy, Sharon & Rick Ellingsen, Heather & Paul Haaga, Alice S. Huang & David Baltimore, Jeanie & Terry Kay, Sheila & Alan Lamson, Barbara & John K. Lawrence, Denise & Joe Lumarda, Joanne & Gene Masuda, Terri Murray, Niki Nikias & C. L. Max Nikias, Trevessa & James Terrile, Marilyn & Eugene Stein, Andrea & John Van de Kamp, Julianne & David Worrell

25th Anniversary Gala Planning Committee: Co-chairs: Barbara Goen & Lyn Spector; Kathy Drummy, Lynda Jenner, Sheila Lamson, Terri Murray, and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott.