OssiningMATTERS

Broadway on the Hudson Brings Fun and
Funds for Foundation

Ossining Students perform at Ossining MATTERS Gala 2008

Photos by David Silbert
See more photos of the concert and reception

On Sunday, March 9, the bright lights of Broadway moved a little farther north up the Hudson, as Kerry Butler and Seth Rudetsky brought their star power to the stage of Ossining High School. The evening’s opening act set the Broadway theme, as eight OHS vocal students, performing in pairs, a group, and a solo, delivered truly outstanding renditions of tunes from Songs for a New World, Dreamgirls, Seussical, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. When Xanadu star Kerry Butler took the stage with Broadway veteran and radio personality Seth Rudetsky, their wattage lit things up even brighter. Playing on his expertise as an interviewer, Seth Rudetsky drew Kerry Butler’s life-on-stage story from her in wonderful sound bites, starting with a song from her first big role in Nunsense, through medleys of hits from crowd pleasers such as Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Little Shop of Horrors and Hairspray, to gems from lesser known Batboy: The Musical and chestnuts Oklahoma and Disney’s Dumbo. By turns broadly comic, heartrending, knowing, and sweet, the songs and chat came together perfectly, and kept the large crowd transfixed straight through the goofy fun of the finale, the title song from Xanadu, and the perfect encore, “Suddenly Seymour.”

It was a rousing end to an evening that began with a reception at the new Ossining Public library. Catered by the Wobble café, with beverages donated by local merchants, the reception featured both a silent and a live auction. Items ranging from a weekend in the Adirondacks, to the chance to be a character in a new novel by bestselling author Anita Shreve, to artworks, Broadway evenings, and more drew friendly but spirited bidding. The auction receipts boosted the evening’s proceeds considerably, helping to ensure that Ossining MATTERS Education Foundation will continue to be able to fund a broad range of programs meeting a wide variety of student needs and interests throughout the Ossining School District.

And in the best spirit of Broadway, there was an exciting encore: Those who couldn’t attend the concert or reception (or just didn’t want to stop bidding) had another chance to further the mission of Ossining MATTERS, as this year’s brand-new online auction remained open through March 16. Supporters were able to bid on over 100 items, from terrific local restaurants, salons, businesses, and spa services to sports event tickets, house seats at Broadway shows, hot air balloon rides and getaways as distant as Puerto Rico and California wine country.

By the time the online auction had closed, Broadway on the Hudson had brought in over $60,000, which Ossining MATTERS Education Foundation will use to supplement academic, cultural arts, and athletic programs throughout the Ossining School District.

We are so very grateful to all who contributed to the evening, whether by attending the concert, bidding at the auctions, donating items for the auction and reception, stuffing envelopes, or any of the dozens of other ways people have helped. Thanks to you, we will continue to make a positive difference in the education of Ossining's students.