The 2006 Spotlight Spectacular!, the Huntington's annual benefit event, took place at the Westin Copley Place Boston on Monday, April 24, 2006 and, once again, the event lived up to its name!

Chaired by Huntington Overseer Linda Waintrup and her husband, Dan, this year's event raised more than $550,000 to support the Huntington's productions and programs. These funds are particularly important to the continuation of the Huntington's award-winning Youth, Education, and Community Outreach initiatives.

Mimi Lieber, last seen in our production of The Sisters Rosensweig, served as the evening's host, welcoming to the stage such stellar performers as Tony Award-winner Denis O'Hare, Linda Mugleston, Jessica Stone, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Zabryna Guevara, who served to provide the evening's outstanding entertainment.

The live auction, helmed superbly once again by the Huntington's own Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Bill McQuillan, included a walk-on role in Adam Sandler's new film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry; 2 tickets to the 2006 Tony Awards and a post-Awards show dinner, and an overnight stay at the St. Regis Hotel New York; a Neiman Marcus citrine Edwardian pendant necklace adorned with white and cognac diamonds and yellow sapphires designed by celebrity jeweler Rosalina; an Executive Suite at Fenway Park; 4 tickets to see the Red Sox battle the New York Yankees at Fenway; and 2 exclusive "Producer's Tickets" to see Bruce Springsteen at the Tweeter Center.

As part of this exciting live auction, guests pledged more than $65,000 to "Sponsor-a-Class" for our Student Matinees, which brings thousands of Boston-area students to Huntington productions each season. And for the second year, our online auction allowed friends of the Huntington to preview and place bids on a range of unique auction items in the weeks leading up to the event.

Thank you to all those who attended, supported, donated, and helped to create this magnificent and fun evening!

For questions or further information, please contact Amanda White at 617 273-1522 or AWhite@huntingtontheatre.bu.edu

» Highlights from 2005's Spotlight Spectacular!