Hamilton's Tamar Greene Joins Madison Museum's Virtual Benefit
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts will host its first ever virtual benefit, 2020 Vision on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 7pm. The museum’s largest fundraiser, 2020 Vision is being held virtually this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event benefits METC’s Education Scholarship Program and will be a night full of entertainment, stories from teachers, and messages about the vibrant educational programs METC provides for the community. Tickets can be purchased at www.metc.org/virtual-benefit or over the phone at 973-377-2982.
METC’s goal in hosting this fundraiser virtually was to create an event that will keep our friends and members safe and connected but also help raise much needed funds for the museum’s scholarship program. This online event via Zoom is a perfect way to include our museum family and highlight some of the excellent work METC has done over the past few months providing virtual educational content for schools and advancing our role as a community resource.
Emceeing the night’s festivities will be Jim Conroy. Conroy is an actor and writer who has been featured in commercials, cartoons, television, and video games including, Rio 2, FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman, and Grand Theft Auto IV. He currently portrays the “Green Room Guy” in TD Ameritrade’s commercials.
One of METC’s special guests will be Tamar Greene from the eleven time Tony award winning musical Hamilton. Greene currently stars as General George Washington in the Broadway production having previously played the role in the Chicago production of Hamilton. He also has toured with the US Tours of Love Never Dies and Porgy and Bess. He can also be seen in the NY Philharmonic Orchestra’s production of Show Boat at Lincoln Center, which was broadcast on PBS.
As part of the night’s entertainment, Metropolitan Opera Soprano, Jennifer Welch-Babidge, will perform a stunning aria from METC’s Main Gallery. Welch-Babidge has been praised by critics worldwide for her performances in roles that include Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Freia in Das Reingold, and Marzelline in Fidelio. She has performed across the country at venues including New York City’s Metropolitan Opera Company, the San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Intermountain Opera, and she has performed with Seiji Ozawa at the Seiji Ozawa Ongaku-juku Festival.
And no benefit is complete without food and drink! Those attending 2020 Vision will be able to purchase METC’s “Party in Box,” a collaboration with local businesses Healthy Italia and Gary’s Wine & Marketplace which will offer guests a specially curated selection of wine and cheese to sip and snack while enjoying the evening’s entertainment.
All guests will be entered in a special raffle prize at the end of the night provided by Salvatore Minardi Salon. Included in this special prize is a beauty treatment valued at $420. Support the museum’s vibrant educational programs and you will have the chance to win this opportunity to pamper yourself!
An on-going “Giving Auction” will be part of the evening prior to and during the event as an opportunity for guests to donate directly to schools and causes close to their hearts. The Giving Auction raises scholarship funds for schools, senior groups, and people living with disabilities to experience one of METC’s educational and engaging programs. This scholarship fund is particularly critical this year as the COVID-19 pandemic has made access to these programs increasingly difficult. METC has already adapted many of the educational programs to a digital format that is more easily accessible for schools and other organizations, but the need is still critical. Now, more than ever, we are committed to being a resource for all --promoting lifelong learning and appreciation of history and culture.
METC welcomes participation in 2020 Vision in many ways. For those who would like to increase their impact, there are a number of individual and business sponsorship opportunities available. For sponsorship opportunities, please visit our website www.metc.org/virtual-benefit. The Board of Trustees and METC want to thank these event sponsors:
Edward Jones Financial Advisors -Rich Tierney & Andrew Boles
PSE&G
Nisivoccia LLC
Madison Area YMCA
Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.
Deborah & Isaac Starker
Maplewoodshop
Herrigel, Bolan & Poy LLP
Irene Maroney
Thomas Judd
Sanford Insurance
Provident Bank
Haven Savings Bank
Stacy Russo CPA
This article originally appeared on the Madison Patch
