State Theatre Honors North Brunswick Residents Joan and Robert Campbell at 2016 State Theatre Benefit Gala on April 30
New Brunswick, NJ (PRWEB) April 22, 2016 -- State Theatre will honor North Brunswick residents Joan and Robert Campbell with the State Theatre Patron Award at the 2016 State Theatre Benefit Gala on Saturday, April 30, 2016 featuring comedian Martin Short.
“Words cannot express our gratitude for this wonderful couple who have given so much through the years,” said Anna Marie Gewirtz, State Theatre Vice President of Development & Strategic Partnerships “We applaud them for their dedication and generosity.”
Joan and Bob Campbell have long been leaders in philanthropic initiatives, primarily in health care, education, and the arts. Their support of organizations and individuals, through scholarships, ranges widely, but there is a special place for the State Theatre as it was where they first dated over 60 years ago.
Joan Campbell grew up locally in then rural East Brunswick and graduated from South River High School. She earned a B.A. degree in elementary education from The College of New Jersey (then Trenton State College), taught at Ramstein AFB during Bob’s military service in Germany, and later in their home town of North Brunswick. She also served on TCNJ’s President’s Council. Joan keeps happily active with her four children and spouses and nine grandchildren.
Bob Campbell is a retired Vice Chairman of The Board of Directors of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) where he also was Chairman of the Professional Sector Worldwide. He served as an Air Force officer for three years and during his J&J career held numerous positions in financial and executive management. Campbell is Trustee Emeritus and past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Fordham University and of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is past Chairman of the Advisory Council of The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, a past member of the Advisory Council for the College of Science of the University of Notre Dame, and has served on the Governor’s committees on higher education. He has also been active on the boards and advisory committees of a broad array of charitable organizations. A graduate of Fordham University, Bob earned an MBA at Rutgers University.
Gala Information
The Gala festivities begin at 5pm at The Heldrich Hotel and the performance will begin at 6pm. In addition to the concert, Gala guests will enjoy a reception, dinner with reserved seating, open bar, dancing, and live entertainment. The Benefit Gala, the State Theatre’s biggest annual event, underwrites the State Theatre’s artistically acclaimed programming and nationally recognized education programs. A portion of each ticket price represents a tax-deductible contribution to the State Theatre. Concert tickets range from 35-$85. For concert only tickets, call 732-246-SHOW (7469). Benefit Gala tickets are $700. For Benefit Gala tickets please call 732-247-7200, ext. 543.
The State Theatre’s Corporate Honoree award will be presented to Aon Hewitt and the Leadership in the Arts award will be given to Greater Media New Jersey.
The 2016 Benefit Gala Co-Chairs are Brent (TCNJ) and Susan Podlogar (Johnson & Johnson, State Theatre Trustee) with support from ViceChairs Scott Fergang (State Theatre Vice Chair) of RBC Wealth Management and Jacqueline Hancock-Pena (State Theatre Trustee) of Investors Bank.
About the Gala Artist
Martin Short, a celebrated comedian and actor, has won fans and accolades in television, film and theater since his breakout season on Saturday Night Live almost 30 years ago, and recently returned to SNL for the 40th anniversary special.
Short won his first Emmy® in 1982 while working on Canada’s SCTV Comedy Network, which brought him to the attention of the producers of Saturday Night Live. He became a fan-favorite for his portrayal of characters such as Ed Grimley, lawyer Nathan Thurm, and “legendary songwriter” Irving Cohen.
His popularity and exposure on Saturday Night Live led Short to cross over quickly into feature films. He made his debut in Three Amigos and followed with Inner Space, Three Fugitives, Clifford, Pure Luck, and Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks. One of Short’s most memorable roles was in the remake of Father of the Bride, as Franck the wedding planner, a role he reprised a few years later in Father of the Bride Part II. Short is featured in the upcoming animated film Madagascar 3, and the Tim Burton film Frankenweenie.
An accomplished stage actor, Short won a Tony® and an Outer Critics Circle Award for his role in the revival of Little Me. He was also nominated for a Tony® and took home an Outer Critics Circle Award for the musical version of Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl.
State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. Magic 98.3 is the official radio station of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre. United is the official airline of the State Theatre.
STATE THEATRE
15 Livingston Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Ticket Office - 732-246-SHOW (7469)
Online - http://www.StateTheatreNJ.org
PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS FURNISHED UPON REQUEST
Please contact Kelly Blithe at
732-247-7200, ext. 542 or by email at kblithe(at)StateTheatreNJ(dot)org.
Up-to-the-minute information on events and State Theatre news,
online at http://www.StateTheatreNJ.org.
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Kelly Blithe, State Theatre, http://www.statetheatrenj.org/, +1 732-247-7200 Ext: 542, [email protected]
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