WPCNR PEN, QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. November 9, 2004: By a rough rule of thumb, the WPPAC was about 80% full last night. Depending on the depth and content of the pockets of Mr. and Mrs. Well-Heeled White Plains who attended, and how much production costs were waived, the WPPAC may realize $70,000 out of the event, and depending on silent auction receipts could reach between $90,000 and $100,000.

WPPAC ANGELS Filled the Hall Monday Evening at the White Plains Performing Arts Center Gala Cocktail  Hour. Photo by WPCNR StageCam

$100,000 Handle Before Expenses An Outside Possibility.

The catering was donated by Legal Seafood, Morton’s Steakhouse and Zanaro’s for the cocktail hour and the dessert After-Show coffee.  Here’s what the handle looks like:

Assume 100 seats (first five or six rows) sold at $250: $25,000

Assume an additional 250 seats sold at $150 each:  $37,500

Advertising did appear in the Programs given out at the WPPAC performance but the advertisements were included as part of the ticket deal for some of the advertisers.  However, let us assume most ads were paid at $600 a page, $300 a half-page.

In the two programs there are 30-1/4 pages of advertising at approximately $600 a page for $18,150 of advertising.

So if only a handful of advertisers received free half-pages if they purchased two tickets, then the rough handle adds up to approximately $80,650, right on Paul Wood’s rough estimate to the CitizeNetReporter.  That is before expenses to stage the show:

$150 Tickets:                      $37,500

$250 Tickets:                      $25,000

Advertising, 30-1/4 Pages: $18,150

Estimated House Gross      $80,650

Silent Auction a Sleeper.

Another source of revenue to add to this is the silent auction in which 25 experiences, items, and services were bid on by the gala attendees, with a total minimum bid value of $17,370.

Among the items bid were a round of golf with Donald Trump and Frank Gifford for $5,000; Kathie Lee Gifford’s Manolo Blahnik spike heels, $500; Season Tickets to New York Giants Football in 2005-06; a $1,000 gift certificate to Mary Jane Denzer’s; a Mohonk Mountain House Getaway for $500; a Teeth Whitening Treatment from Dr. Jeffrey Schlotman, the Singing Dentist in White Plains; Enrollment in WPPAC’s Youth Theater Summer Camp in 2005, $600; Two-Months Membership in New York Sports Club, $600;  Four Tickets to Under The Bridge and other gifts from local restaurants, and services.

 If all items went at the minimum bids or did better than minimum the “Gross” could reach $100,000. If the theatre lays off production expenses on other sources, the net could approach the six figures.

Broadway Bright Lights, Actress/Singer Rita Harvey, Center and William Michals, right, stayed after the show to schmooz with patrons. Here the stars talk with Mrs. Joseph Delfino, left. Photo by WPCNR StageCam.