FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE....November 17, 2003
Contact David Turner, 518-798-7479

ADIRONDACK THEATRE FESTIVAL
10th ANNUAL WINTER BENEFIT

“ten”

WILL LAUNCH 10^th ANNIVERSARY YEAR AT QUEENSBURY HOTEL FRIDAY, JANUARY 23

Benefit on FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2004 at 7pm will officially launch ATF’s tenth anniversary year.  This ALWAYS SOLD OUT evening has featured some of Downtown Glens Falls’ unique buildings in years past, and 2004 will be no exception with food, drink, silent auction, and Broadway Revue taking place at a true Glens Falls landmark since 1926, The Queensbury Hotel.

The Adirondack Theatre Festival’s Annual Benefit will again bring the best in Broadway talent to the North Country for a unique one-night fundraiser on Friday, January 23, 2003.  ATF’s “ten” will take place in all three banquet rooms at The Queensbury Hotel.  The fundraiser will begin with a food and cocktail period at which time our annual silent auction will be taking place.  This year’s auction items promise something for everyone including tickets for hard-to-get Broadway shows, favorite local and regional theaters, a NYC weekend package featuring a taping of Saturday Night Live, dinner parties with local chefs, original artwork by renowned local artists and so much more.  For a complete list of our auction items please check out our web site at www.ATFestival.org. Food and drink will be provided by The Queensbury Hotel, Davidson Brothers Restaurant & Brewery, Friends Lake Inn, Fitzgerald Brothers, and The Montcalm Restaurant.

“ten’s” entertainment will be a 10th Anniversary Revue featuring several Broadway performers, some of whom appeared in ATF’s 9th season in summer 2003!  Stacia Fernandez of ATF’s hilarious 2003 musical BINGO has performed in numerous Broadway shows including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Swing!, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Beauty and the Beast. Martin Kildare is known to ATF audiences as the older brother Paolo in last summer’s outdoor production of THE LAKE’S END,  and has appeared as “Scar” in THE LION KING on Broadway, as well as numerous other Broadway shows including THE HERBAL BED and TIMON OF ATHENS.  Fernandez and Kildare will be joined by other Broadway performers to be announced in the coming weeks.

“ten” will mark the first step in ATF’s 10th year which will celebrate all that this remarkable organization has accomplished in its first decade.  From a one-night performance with the late Jason Robards and Broadway diva Elaine Stritch in January 1995, to the projected opening of the new Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls in June 2004, this organization has quickly become a leader in the local cultural scene, and a driving force for the economic revitalization of downtown Glens Falls.  In our region, ATF is the only theater dedicated to new and contemporary work in a crowded summer theater market, and on a national scale, shows which originated at ATF have played in all 50 states.

Also at “ten”, ATF will be announcing the first details of its 10th Anniversary season, it’s first at the Charles R. Wood Theater on the sight of Glens Falls’ former Woolworth store which was ATF’s home from 1996-2002.  Those attending “ten” will be the first to hear about, and have an opportunity to purchase tickets for these exciting events.

The Festival is also currently selling $10 raffle tickets for those who cannot attend the event but want to support the 2004 season.  A cash prize of $1000 will be awarded at the event.

 “ten” will take place Friday, January 23, 2004 beginning at 7:00pm.  Tickets are $50 and $75, the latter including a reserved seat at the performance and Patron Listing in the evening’s program.  To order tickets call 518-798-7479 or mail check, money order, or VISA/MC number (with exp date) to ATF at PO Box 3203, Glens Falls, NY 12801.  Also check out ATF on the internet for updates on Silent and Live Auction Items, performers, and the evening’s festivities: www.ATFestival.org.