Oz Comic-Con

René in Garden Grove, CA on June 13

Shakespeare Orange County Star-Studded ‘Fun-Raiser’ Kicks Off ‘Summerfest 2015’

Evening Under the Stars includes Celebrity Cast in Kaufman & Hart Comedy, Great Deals on Donated Items, and Post-Show Reception. Tickets begin at $25.

Shakespeare Orange County (SOC) launches Summerfest 2015 at the Garden Grove Amphitheatre on June 13 with its 2nd Annual “Fun-raising” event.

Tickets to the evening include a live performance of the 1939 radio adaptation of Kaufman and Hart’s You Can’t Take it With You with a celebrity cast that includes René Auberjonois, Seamus Dever, Kurtwood Smith, Joe Spano, Tamlyn Tomita, and JoBeth Williams among many more.

There will be a silent auction with vacations, collectibles, tickets to performing arts events and even a musical instrument and lessons will go to the highest bidder – usually at prices far below their retail values. After the hour-long performance, guests will mingle with the cast, SOC staff and supporters, as well as fellow arts lovers from SOC’s increasingly diverse audience.

George Kaufman and Moss Hart’s You Can’t Take it With You premiered on Broadway in 1936, winning the 1937 Pulitzer Prize. The following year a film version was released and in 1930, the Lux Radio Comedy Hour aired the edited version that SOC will present.

“It’s a hilarious, fast-paced hour with all the great Kaufman and Hart characters, plus an announcer and show host,” Walcutt explained. “We’ll even recreate the original sound effects, jingles and commercials!”

“During the ‘commercials’ we’ll be giving away lots of cool autographed show business prizes and auction items,” he said. “The celebrities will hand out the prizes to the winners, who come up onstage and have their pictures taken with them. It’s very interactive.”

Among the donated items in the silent auction are:

• A day for up to 16 on a catamaran docked in Newport Beach
• Star Trek memorabilia autographed by John de Lancie (“Q”) and Rene Auberjonois (“Odo”)
• A violin and three private lessons from Pacific Symphony’s first violin and Associate Concertmaster Paul Manaster
• A wine-tasting retreat at a hotel in Paso Robles
• A week for four at a Ketchum-Sun Valley condo
• Donations from arts organizations include Bowers Museum, Chance Theater and South Coast Repertory

The Garden Grove Amphitheatre is located at 12852 Main St, Garden Grove, CA 92840. Parking is available on the street and in a nearby lot. For more information on this event or the SOC 2015 Season email info@shakespeareoc.org or call 714-636-3729.