Season Opening Gala

Season Opening Gala | June 24, 2023

Start your summer dancing! Celebrate the magic of the Berkshires and Jacob’s Pillow with our Season Opening Gala. Known as the ultimate summer kickoff, the Gala is sure to be a spectacular evening of conversation, connection, and inspiration, capped off with lots of dancing. Join us at the Gala and help ensure that Jacob’s Pillow can continue to provide a place for local and global communities to gather in celebration of dance and invigorate the cultural landscape of the Berkshires and beyond.

About the Season Opening Gala

5:00pm: Warm welcome and reception, featuring the 2023 exhibition opening in Blake’s Barn, the home of the Archives. Pop-up performances across campus by Princess Lockerooo and The Fabulous Waack Dancers.

6:00pm:  One-night-only performance in the Ted Shawn Theatre, including…

• Presentation of the 2023 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award to Misty Copeland
• Lil Buck performing his iconic work The Swan
• A.I.M by Kyle Abraham performing Show Pony and Dance Theatre of Harlem performing This Bitter Earth by Christopher Wheeldon in honor of Misty Copeland
• A solo by MacArthur Award recipient Bill Irwin with live music by Warren Craft
• The School of Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Ballet Program in a world premiere by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
• A showstopper finale by Dorrance Dance

7:30pm: Dinner with dancing to follow 

For more information or to inquire about corporate sponsorships and Gala Program Book advertisements, please contact Izzi Wayner, Gala Manager, at events@jacobspillow.org or at 413.243.9919×024.

If you’re joining us for our Season Opening Gala, be sure to stop through our selfie booth from DigiBooths. With their booth you will be able to take a pic and email or text it directly to your phone. Visit DigiBooths to learn more about their selfie booths and other photo booth rental services.

Jacob’s Pillow is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Each table/ticket is tax-deductible beyond $250 per person, as permitted by law. Contributions are 100% tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Thank you to our generous Gala sponsors!

*List as of June 23, 2023

Season Opening Gala Committee

Co- Chairs
Nancy Nelson Kaplan & Zack Kaplan
Kate & Hans Morris
Calvin Royal III

Committee
Kyle Abraham
Deborah & Charles Adelman
Kathleen Chrisman
Monique & Frank Cordasco
Dana Cowin & Barclay Palmer
Sarah & Timothy Eustis
Nancy & Michael Feller
Ellen Gaies & Dan Schrager
Stephanie Gittleman
Nathan Hanford & Jedidiah Thompson
Steven Hatfield & Patrick Riordan
Joan & Jim Hunter
Nancy K. Kalodner
Jennie Kassanoff
Shelly & George Lazarus
Taryn & Mark Leavitt
Shela & Gary Levante
Daniel Mathieu & Thomas Potter
Dr. Maryalice (Ali) Mazzara
Deb McAlister & Christopher Jones
Wendy A. McCain
Caitlin & Mitch Nash
Sienna Patti & Leonardo Quiles
Claudia Perles & Gerry Fultz
Linda Saul-Sena & Mark Sena
Paula Wardynski & Jed Scala
Kari Weil & Michael Roth
Stephen M. Weiner & Donald G. Cornuet
Lisa Weisinger Manne
Wendy Whelan & David Michalek
Liz & Mark Williams

*List as of March 21, 2023