Dear Amherst Community, and families of the Operetta:

I’m very excited about all of the efforts put forth towards Amherst’s 70th Annual Operetta Production, 42nd Street. The orchestra sounds great, the set pieces are taking shape, the tap dance numbers are getting cleaner and cleaner. Throughout the music wing, you can find kids painting, singing, dancing, building, helping each other, practicing jazz licks for the pit – it’s all very inspiring. Behind the scenes there are many parents helping with patron ad sales, ticketing (more to come shortly), helping with set construction and costumes. We are so very grateful, and could not accomplish this without all of these contributions of time and talent.

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Operetta – let me say that again (and leave the sentence incomplete) – the 70th Annual Operetta! 1950, Snyder – the school building was not even 20 years old. The Kensington expressway didn’t even exist yet. It was a different America and a different age, yet the faculty and students of this district staged the very first Amherst Operetta on the very same stage that we know and love. It was Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, truly an “Operetta” in the grand style. Shows from the “Golden Era” of Broadway were either brand new productions or hadn’t even been written yet! I can’t help but feeling a sense of awe and mystique – wondering what stories the walls of that room could tell if they could… What an awesome responsibility it is to continue this tradition, and perpetuate the opportunities it has created for seven decades of Amherst youth.

Certainly we much cherish and celebrate the past, but it is equally about celebrating the current moment – the current purveyors responsible for passing on this great tradition for the future yet to come. Imagine what production might play on this stage 70 years from now – in 2089. It seems preposterous, but I would suspect 2019 seemed equally unfathomable to a high school kid in 1950.

If you have not already seen the invitation on the Alumni Association website or on the High School’s Facebook page, it is my privilege to invite you to the 70th Annual Gala Dinner prior to the Friday evening performance of 42nd Street. The school cafeteria will be fully decorated with a red carpet, full round tables, linens and china, catered by Damon Ayer (MS Vocal Director Erin Scudder Ayer’s husband), owner of the fabulous Mason’s Grille 52 in Hamburg. The attached invitation describes the buffet dinner, and how to purchase the dinner through the Alumni Association.

We hope you will join us, and then enjoy the fruits of our students’ work as they present the 70th Annual Operetta!

Most respectfully and appreciatively yours,
Justin T. Pomietlarz,
Producer, Vocal Director, Accompanist
Amherst Operetta Association

Gala Information:

JOIN US for an elegant catered dinner as we celebrate the Amherst Operetta Association’s 70th annual production!

AMHERST CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH 2019

This special event will be held in the High School Cafeteria, which will be enhanced with past Operetta memorabilia, a 70th Anniversary Red Carpet photo mural, and complete linens and china. Each guest will also receive a special gift!

• GUESTS OF HONOR
  • Posy Dayton and Frank Cecala
• THE EVENING’S EVENTS
  • 4:45 – 5:30 pm | mingle
  • 5:30 – 7:15 pm | dinner

At 7:30 pm, use your ticket (purchased separately)* to attend the evening’s performance of 42nd Street.

MENU

• Assorted Cheese and Cracker Boards, Garden Salad, and Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls
  • Served family style at each table

BUFFET

• Portabella Filet of Sirloin
  • Grilled hand cut filet of sirloin, crowned with a marinated portabella mushroom fresh tomatoes and crumbled bleu cheese
• Honey Mustard Panko Chicken
  • Fresh breast of chicken coated with honey mustard and panko bread crumbs, oven baked then finished with a sweet raspberry reduction drizzle
• Garden Pasta
  • Angel hair pasta, sautéed mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, baby spinach, grilled squash and basil pesto, finished with a hint of lemon and Romano (vegetarian)
• Oven Roasted Baby Red Potatoes · Fresh Seasonal Vegetables Assorted Dessert Trays · Soda and Coffee

Buffet catered by Damon Ayer, proprietor of Mason’s Grille 52 in Hamburg and spouse of Middle School Vocal Music Director, Erin (Scudder) Ayer.

$60 PER PERSON

Tables of 10 can be reserved for $600

To make your reservations and pay for this event:

Click here to download reservation form to mail—>

You can also pay and reserve online with credit/debit card by using PayPal button below. (Online reservations are $62)

You can also visit the Alumni Office, Room 103 in Amherst Central High School Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm or Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30pm.

*Tickets to 42nd Street are not included in the dinner cost, and must be purchased separately through the High School Box Office at (716) 362-8345 after January 28. Amherst Alumni can order tickets by clicking here—>

*Tables of 10 can be reserved for $600 reservations must be purchased through the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation and then have your table or other seating requests directed to Nan Ables, Vice Principal at nables@amherstschools.org.