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<\/a>\u201cI think we\u2019re all lucky because we live in San Diego [and] we can all be proud we live in such a theater town,\u201d said Tim Mulligan, co-chair of the gala. Mulligan, the chief human resources officer for San Diego Zoo Global, previously served on the Cygnet board and chaired the event with board member Doreen Black.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you all for coming and celebrating Cygnet,\u201d Mulligan said. \u201cIt has been my pleasure to support Cygnet as a board member for six years.\u201d Mulligan\u2019s term on the board recently ended and he organized the gala each year of service.<\/p>\n
The evening started with a party and silent auction at 5 p.m., with the revue at 8 p.m. at the Old Town Theatre. Before the revue, organizers held a live auction, where attendees bid on items ranging from private dinners with Cygnet staff and guests, to vacation packages.<\/p>\n
Initial estimates show supporters that evening gave approximately $145,000, making this year\u2019s gala the most successful in Cygnet\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
Helming the theater company is Artistic Director Sean Murray and Executive Director Bill Schmidt, and both said they were very thankful for the continuing support. The Company was founded in 2003 with the construction of the Rolando Theatre before moving to Old Town in 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cTen years. It\u2019s amazing,\u201d Schmidt said before honoring the founding board members and patrons at the anniversary gala.<\/p>\n
Murray, who co-founded the company, said he was also touched by the evening\u2019s support, and called the audience \u201cdear friends.\u201d Their response was loud and joyful.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for coming tonight, thank you for having come for 10 years and thank you for coming, hopefully, 10 more years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
James Vasquez directed the revue, which included a medley of the company\u2019s songs from shows past and a video montage spanning the theater\u2019s first decade. Joining Murray on stage that night were Sandy Campbell, Manny and Melissa Fernandes, Phil Johnson, Tom Zohar and Braxton Molinaro.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been an actor, director and choreographer for Cygnet over the years,\u201d Vasquez said, \u201cbut whether I\u2019m involved in the productions or not, I remain one of their biggest fans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vasquez said it was difficult to choose one favorite memory from the company\u2019s past and called opening night of \u201cThe Glass Menagerie\u201d in 2011 particularly touching. \u201cI wasn\u2019t involved in the show, but it\u2019s one of my favorites as an audience member,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
For Cygnet, Vasquez\u2019s credits include associate director and choreographer for \u201cA Little Night Music\u201d and a starring role in \u201cPageant,\u201d among others. He directed the 2009 production of \u201cHedwig and the Angry Inch,\u201d one of their last at the Rolando Theatre.<\/p>\n