Press Release
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University’s Friends of the Arts is raffling off a trip to see WCU’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and hosting a silent auction to benefit student scholarships and programs in WCU’s College of Fine and Performing Arts.
The auction part of the “Bidding, Broadway, Beverages and Baguettes” fundraiser will be Friday, April 4, from 5 to 7:25 p.m. in the lobby of the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center prior to the School of Stage and Screen main stage performance of the Tony-Award-winning musical “Les Miserables.”
Entrance to the silent auction is free and open to the public and does not require a ticket to “Les Miserables.” Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available in the lobby during the auction. Auction items will feature goods and services including vacation and recreation packages, original artwork, jewelry, tickets and gift certificates for hotels, restaurants, shops and services. Auction items may be viewed prior to the event on the WCU Friends of the Arts Silent Auction website at friendsofthearts.wcu.edu.
Raffle tickets go on sale Saturday, March 1, for a Thanksgiving trip for two to New York City to see the WCU marching band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The trip includes coach airfare from Charlotte or Atlanta to New York City departing Tuesday, Nov. 25, and returning Friday, Nov. 28, plus a three-night stay in a four-star hotel (Nov. 25-27) in the Times Square area, limousine services to and from the hotel, attendance at a band rehearsal, Grand Stand VIP parade seating, Thanksgiving dinner with the band and a $500 gift card for meals, shows and other expenses. Parade seating tickets and Thanksgiving dinner are courtesy of David Starnes, director of the marching band.
Three hundred raffle tickets will be available for $40 each or three tickets for $100. Raffle tickets still available on April 4 will be on sale the evening of “Bidding, Broadway, Beverages and Baguettes.” The drawing for the winner of the raffle will take place at the Sunday, April 6, matinee performance of “Les Miserables.” Raffle ticket holders do not have to be present to win.
To purchase raffle tickets, visit or call the Bardo Arts Center box office, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 828-227-2479. Payment for the raffle should be made out to “WCU Foundation.”
“Les Miserables” will stage nightly at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3 thru Saturday April 5, and then at 3 p.m. April 6 in the Bardo Arts Center.
Based on Victor Hugo’s epic 1862 novel, the musical includes some of the most-loved songs of the last century, including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own” and “Bring Him Home.” Directing WCU’s production is Terrence Mann, three-time Tony nominee and the WCU Phillips Distinguished Professor in Musical Theatre. Mann played the role of Inspector Javert in the original Broadway cast of “Les Miserables” in 1987.
The musical is presented by the WCU School of Stage and Screen’s Musical Theatre Program and is the final offering of the 2013-14 School of Stage and Screen Mainstage Season.
Admission to “Les Miserables” is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and WCU faculty and staff; and $7 (in advance) and $10 (day of show) for students. For tickets, visit the Bardo Arts Center box office, call 828-227-2479 or order online at bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.
For more information about the Friends of the Arts Organization, raffle or silent auction, visit friendsofthearts.wcu.edu online or contact Claire Collins of WCU’s College of Fine and Performing Arts at 828-227-7028.
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