Emerald Coast Theatre Company Raises Over $50,000 During 10-Year Anniversary Event

The Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) is pleased to announce that over $50,000 was raised at their special 10-year anniversary event, “An Enchanted Evening: Celebrating a Decade of Dreams,” presented by Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®.

 

The celebration took place at the theatre, located at 560 Grand Boulevard, Suite 200, on Friday, September 16, and transcended guests into a whimsical evening unlike any other. The space was transformed from its usual configuration into a stunning event space with bistro twinkle lights, balloon décor by Mingle, live greenery by Clay 30A, indulgent place settings, over-the-top florals by Rose & Co., and theatrical elements including a secret passageway for guests to travel through.

 

The sold-out event welcomed 200 guests to honor the non-profit theatre company and their impact, service, and dedication over the past 10 years serving the Emerald Coast. Upon entry, guests were greeted with a glass of champagne from Vin’tij Food and Wine before entering the enchanted, secret-garden cocktail hour featuring hors d'oeuvres by Tommy Bahama, courtesy of Spotlight Sponsor, The Seaside Style.

 

Patrons were then escorted to an elegant multi-course seated dinner prepared and served by local chefs and restaurants. The lineup of culinary talent included:

• Pastry Chef Kara Enache of Black Bear Bread Company

• Chef Matthew Krueger of Ovide led by Chef Hugh Acheson

• Chef Chad Donelson of Bitterroot

• Chef Thomas Wachter of Emeril’s Coastal 

Each of the chef’s unique courses were paired perfectly with craft cocktails served by Better Together Beverage from the official Step One Automotive Group bar including spirits from Campesino Rum, Distillery 98, Good Clean Wine, Grayton Beer Company, and Idyll Hounds Brewing Company. Guests were gifted with multiple surprises from gracious sponsors including a wrapped gift at each place setting by Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®, gift bags by The Seaside Style, sweet treats by Kilwin’s courtesy of The Hahn Family, and a custom Riedel wine glass courtesy of Ocean Reef Resorts. 

 

Throughout the evening guests were surrounded by live music from Top Hat live, an interactive photobooth courtesy of Legendary Marine, and an extensive silent auction featuring a plethora of items including a guitar signed by country music group Lady A, along with hotel stays, gift cards, jewelry, gift baskets, and much more. All funds raised through ticket sales, sponsorship, and the silent auction went directly to ECTC and their continued mission to enrich and entertain the Emerald Coast community through professional and educational theatre.

 

“Robust cultural art offerings are a keystone of any thriving and vibrant community,” said Stacey Brady, Director of Marketing and Communications for Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®, the evening’s presenting sponsor. “ECTC brings a much-needed live performance element that makes our community more attractive to residents, visitors and even professionals and businesses being recruited to our area. It’s an important cultural attraction and you can’t be a world-class destination without live theatre.”

 

To culminate the evening, attendees were treated to a special performance commemorating the theatre and their impact on the community through a decade of service. Students, staff, and actors took the stage to showcase ECTC’s Season 10 Theme, “The Heart of ECTC is YOU”, through singing, dancing, and acting of some of their most popular performances. ECTC founders, Nathanael and Anna Fisher, closed out the performance with a special thank you along with a message about what the evening, and the last 10 years, has meant to them.

 

“There are so many people that believed in the dream when we were operating ECTC out of our garage, in empty retail spaces, and using any space we could find at local schools for our educational programming,” Anna said. “They didn’t see us for where we were, they saw us for what we are going to become.”

 

“Our community has rallied around us, the support through the pandemic and as we’ve celebrated year 10 has been so amazing; but it’s just the first ten years,” Nathanael said. “We are not done dreaming, and our community is challenging us for more, and there is more, it’s just the first ten years, we have so many more to go.”

 

Emerald Coast Theatre Company would like to thank the local businesses and individuals for sponsoring the anniversary event, including Bedsole Wealth Management Group at Raymond James, Chi-Mar Construction, Emerald Coast Magazine, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, The Howard Group, Keich Law Firm PA, McKibbon Hospitality, Savoie Architects, Sandestin® Golf and Beach Resort, Step One Automotive Group, TPK Staffing Solutions, Valparaiso Coca-Cola Bottling Co., and Visit South Walton.