Scenes from the First Stage Make Believe Ball at the Hilton

Dinner is served in the Hilton Crystal Ballroom at the First Stage annual fundraiser. Photos by Brian Jacobson for ThirdCoast Digest.

Against the backdrop of giant gumdrops and suckers, First Stage Children’s Theater held its 18th annual Make Believe Ball at the downtown Milwaukee Hilton hotel’s Crystal Ballroom.

The black tie event was well-attended and supported by such entities as the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Rexnord, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin along with individual families who dressed their kids to the nines for a night of fun activities, a gourmet meal, silent and voice auction, and of course dancing.

Last year’s Ball raised more than $100,000 to support First Stage’s mission to “transform lives through theater” in productions, theater academies, and education outreach. The theme was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (which opens in the Todd Wehr theater on March 3), so boys were running around with tall suckers from the centerpieces, holding impromptu sword fights. Before the dinner began, there was a room set aside with old-fashioned carnival games and an arts and craft table. There was plenty of Sprecher root beer flowing next to a huge tub of snacks. In another room, “Organized Chaos,” a First Stage improv troupe made up of young teens put on a show. In the long room, items such as a Green Machine, autographed footballs, deluxe Scrabble sets, LEGO pirate ship, and a semester of dance classes at North Shore Dance were up for bid. Later on, parents vocally bid on larger donated offerings, like four viewing passes to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade or a trip to the Ryder Cup.

TCD captured some of the festivities and moments upstairs, while Shoot the Moon photography got everyone’s official family portraits downstairs. Check out our slideshow below, or visit our Flickr site here for the set.  To find out more about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory production or order tickets, visit the First Stage organization website.

To find out more about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory production or order tickets, visit the First Stage organization website. Get the most out of TCD. Check out our FAQ/User Guide.