Action Council

SPAC Action Council Mission:

The Action Council was created to work in unison with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in public relations, planning of fundraising activities, and to support SPAC's mission: to cultivate, promote, foster, sponsor and develop among its members and the community at large, appreciation, understanding, and love of the performing arts.

The Action Council consists of volunteers from the community and the structure includes an Executive Committee:

President - Gerry Golub

Vice President - JoAnn Duquette

Treasurer - Nancy Casna

Recording Secretary - Amy Bloom

Corresponding Secretary - Maria Harrison

Chair of Nominating - Harriet Kalejs

Chair of Membership - Melissa Zieker

Past President - Jeanne Van Patten

The members of SPAC's Action Council dedicate their time to hosting special events to raise funds for SPAC. These special events occur throughout the year and all proceeds go to support the SPAC summer program for the ballet and orchestra. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to join the Action Council in working on these events:

Nutcracker Tea

November, Hall of Springs

The Nutcracker Tea is an annual favorite and a perfect way to kick off the holiday season. It is a family-focused event that sells out two performances year after year. Children delight in the English tradition of high tea, complete with kid-friendly finger sandwiches, hot chocolate, and dessert, while enjoying an up close and personal performance of excerpts from The Nutcracker, as presented by the Northeast Ballet Company.

5K Rock and Run

May, Grounds of SPAC

A family friendly 5K walk/run that begins and ends at SPAC with a route throughout the state park, lined with live music from many different genres to keep the participants motivated! There are two runs - one for children and one for the grown-ups. The post-run lawn party includes bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, strolling magicians, more live music and food vendors. The proceeds help fund the Vivienne Anderson Program.

Ballet Gala

July, Hall of Springs and Grounds of SPAC

Our largest annual fundraiser, often called "the event of the year" in Saratoga, supports the residency of the New York City Ballet. This event, a veritable who's who of Saratoga, includes a captivating performance by the NYCB, followed by fireworks and a festive post-performance lawn party. Guests may choose to purchase tickets to the Gala held inside the Hall of Springs, which begins with a champagne reception followed by an elegant sit-down dinner and amphitheatre seating. After the ballet, guests return to the Hall of Springs for a festive afterglow party. The lawn party is also not to be missed, as revelers decked out in accordance with the galas annual theme compete for best lawn party picnic. The Ballet Gala won the Locals Choice Award for Best Summer Gala 2011.

Lecture Luncheon

October, SPAC Little Theater and Hall of Springs

The annual lecture luncheon has been dubbed a "day all about me - feed your brain, feed your body, and feed your need for self-indulgence with a little retail therapy, all for a great cause". The events begin with a continental breakfast in the lobby of the Spa Theater. Next a speaker or performer entertains us, often speaking about artists, writers, historical figures or cultural icons. The 2011 guest speaker was best-selling author Andrew Gross. We then move to the Hall of Springs for a fabulous luncheon complete with shopping booths from local vendors who generously contribute a portion of their sales to SPAC.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS:

Vivienne Anderson Children's Program

July

The Action Council funds support for this very special program which provides free tickets to select matinee performances of the NYCB to disadvantaged area youth, offering them the opportunity to experience the joys of the arts. The children visit the National Museum of Dance, meet with dancers from the company, and learn about a dancers life. They view the performance after having been introduced to the story line, choreographer, and composer. It is the goal of the program that experiencing the arts in such a meaningful way, often for their first time, will help these children foster a lifelong love of the arts.

The Action Council is actively recruiting community members to join and work with us so we are able to support SPACs important cultural and childrens programming. To learn more about membership, please contact Melissa Zieker at mzieker@ziekereye.com.

To purchase tickets for any of the events, click here.

If you wish to join an event committee, please contact Linda Deschenes.

Roster of Action Council Members:

Judy Aronstamm

Debbie Avellino

Deborah Barthold

Daniela Bigalli

Amy Bloom

Terry Calkins

Sophie Gillet Castro

Nancy Casna

Betty Crummey

Philly Dake

Nancy DiCresce

JoAnn Duquette

Doris Fischer-Malesardi

Sheila Fontenot

Pat Friesen

Lisa Gabryshak

Andrea Golub

Gerry Golub

Georgia Grambas

Maria Harrison

Barbara Hoehn

Theresa Jackson

Traci Jersen

Harriet Kalejs

Robin Kappler

Sally King

Lorraine Laczko

Jill Cassidy Leonard

Jean Lewis Maloy

Melanie Manuel

Brooke Hackler Medick

Hilary Munson

Debi Oliveira

Michel Patterson

Jeanne Pfeiffer

Jael Polnac

Ronnie Serlin

Andrea Spungen

Micheileen Treadwell

L. Jeanne VanPatten

Kate Wimpfheimer

Melissa Zieker

Candace Zlotnick

2012 Events

Action Council