Sat 5/18 @ 6:30-10:30PM
Since the 1970s, Near West Theatre has been using theater as a tool to bring together people of all ages, races, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds and theatrical skills and experience to learn about each other and to grow together as a community. Each year it presents both youth and all-ages high-quality productions with casts that find a role for everyone.
Now it’s having its annual benefit, taking place in the dedicated space in Gordon Square it built and moved into nearly a decade ago. It’s called Tonight Belongs to Us! and it invites guests to come dressed in their dream prom attire, whether that’s a tux, a gown or a tuxedo t-shirt and sneakers. The “royal court” of 2024 honorees included Kristen Baird Adams, PNC Bank’s managing director of client and community relations; and Jazmin Long, president/CEO of the nonprofit Birthing Beautiful Communities. The 2024 Rev. George Hrbek Social Justice Activist Award, named after one of the theater’s co-founders and a civil rights activist who passed away in 2023, is being given to Shamus Dickinson, widely known in the community as “Cleveland’s tallest drag queen,” Veranda L’Ni, who has vigorously defended his community against the mean-spirited predations of Ohio Republican legislators.
Get tickets here.
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