Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1521220
By Candice Cowin. Photography Chris Pierre Bachman, Michael Hart. A dapper crowd packed the historic barn at Windy Knoll for the third annual A Night at the Theater Gala. More than 250 guests ensured that co-chairs Joan Herring and Wendy Burks raised more than half a million dollars for the Fayetteville Community Center & Performance Theater project. Currently under construction in Fayetteville's town square, the space will be a hub for the arts, entertainment, and civic gatherings. For the occasion, Kirksey Gregg Productions gilded the lily, draping the barn's interior in golden hues. The night began with a performance of country tunes by father-son duo Donnie and Beau Blacketer. Just before the live auction, local trio and girl group SASS (Sharon Montgomery, Gigi Welling, and Becky Williams) belted out a rendition of "Hey, Big Spender," while Houston radio personality and emcee Sam Malone helped rev up the crowd for auctioneer Andrew Bost, encouraging guests to bid large on the live auction offerings coordinated by Cathy Bauer, which included: trips to Cabo, Marfa/Fort Davis, and Park City, and adventures featuring an African safari; Louisiana fishing trip; and a hunting, golfing, lodging, and culinary package from Billy Brown and Big Easy Ranch. Antique weapons specialists Rebecca and Bob Axelrod of Axe Antiques inspired the highest bid in the live auction with their donation of an Fayetteville GETS A MAJOR BOOST FROM A $500,000-PLUS CHIC NIGHT AT WINDY KNOLL Community Theater Project immaculate pair of circa-1840 French dueling pistols, which sold for $19,000. In the silent auction, the highest bid of $100,000 went for Pool Party, an artwork by John Lowery of Humble Donkey Studio. The Fayetteville Community Center Group announced that funding for Phase I of the Fayetteville Community Center & Performance Theater project has been achieved. This phase includes rebuilding the 1875-era E.J. Knesek Building, which will boast large public spaces and serve as the theater's lobby. Fundraising continues for Phase II, which includes a state-of-the-art 150- seat theater behind the Knesek Building. Roundup: Kim Kaufhold Young, Morgan Zator, Rebecca McKee, Mary Gilbert Korth, Sara Hatfield, Christy Koenig, Diane Little, Elizabeth Adams, Linda Plant, Mazie and Brent Leftwich, Annette and Brandt Edwards, Mary Lou and Daniel Marks, Denise Jacobs, Frank Hillbolt, Sue and Tomas Romero, David Ewers, Tor y Farley and Jef f Heintschel, Marla and Matt Hurley, Laurie and John Lowery, Lisa and John Walker, Lori and Kevin Dunne, and Susan Budge and Rick Paulson. For more information on the Fayetteville Community Center & Performance Theater project or to make a donation, visit fayettevillecommunitycenter.org. Reid & Tina Bader, Ian Bader, David Ewers, Becky Bader Shannon Murphy Sachanowicz & Les Sachanowicz Page & Michael Moore Jerry Herring & co-chair Joan Herring Co-chair Wendy Burks & Cade Burks SASS's Sharon Montgomery Gigi Welling, Becky Williams Frank Hillbolt Denise Jacobs Jim Stein April Fayette John & Laurie Lowery Kami Sisson Mike Cavender 26