Gala Celebrates Willows Theatre's Return to Concord

It was a night of sequins and sweet tunes at the grand re-opening gala of in Concord on Saturday.

Oh, and sweat equity, too, which was everywhere evident as Managing Director David Faustina thanked a host of individuals and businesses for their contributions and hard work resurrecting the facility.

“We’ve created a world class theater community,” Faustina said, acknowledging the 150 performances We’ve created a world class theater community,” Faustina said, acknowledging the 150 volunteers and 2,500 hours of labor it took to get the work done.

Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeister shouted out a “Welcome back!” from the back of the theater, then joined Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder onstage for a more formal statement.

“You’ve created a great win-win for theater in Contra Costa,” she told Faustina, and Eric Inman, the Willows’ new Artistic Director.

The theater company’s board had billed the return as an expansion, not a departure, from the Campbell Theatre in Martinez, where the Willows will continue to stage smaller, more intimate productions.

The decision to re-open the Concord mainstage generated strong commentary when it was announced last December, just days after the Martinez City Council had voted to forgive a $40,000 debt owed to the city.

“When they made the announcement, some folks were pretty upset in my area,” Mayor Schroder acknowledged, “but it wasn’t the case that the Willows was leaving.”

At the gala, support was unanimous from both cities’ mayors, the packed house, as well as from the Campbell family, who offered a $25,000 matching grant for contributions to the non-profit theater company.

Having made note of the toil and tribulations of the re-opening, Inman stirred the crowd with an invitation to escape the harsh realities of life through theater and introduced the evening's headliner, Broadway star David Burnham.

Burnham performed hits from Wicked and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, interspersed with classic favorites, like “Moon River” and new songs featured on his latest CD.

Accompanied by the impressive, easy-going Mark Vogel at the piano, Burnham led the audience through a musical and personal journey, telling stories of auditions, both good and bad, favorite memories from his life on stage, and most movingly, a recollection of his mother’s role in supporting his dreams.

After the 90 minute concert, champagne bubbled, celebrities and locals mingled, and the Willows began the next chapter in what Virginia Thomas, Todos Santos Business Association President, predicted would be “another 35 glorious years.”

Thanks to Sophie Caroline Hatch and John Keane for their help with photos!