By VICKI L. GERDES
Detroit Lakes' Historic Holmes Theatre will host its biggest "fun"-raiser of the year, "Motion: A Celebration of the Arts," from 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, March 4.
This unique celebration was the brainchild of long time theater supporter Teri Lynne Nelson, who serves as its chair.
"Our Historic Holmes Theatre is in perpetual motion," she said in explanation of the concept behind 'Motion'. "There's a whole lot of movement going on... a flurry of activity."
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Nelson and fellow Motion Committee members have been working on the fund-raiser for over a year. What makes it so unique is that it is designed to involve the community in more than just a one-night event, as Nelson explained in the event brochure.
Rather than a silent auction, participants will have the opportunity to sign up for "Gatherings to Go," a series of fixed price, scheduled events to be held in the lakes area from March through November. Concerts, classes, parties, travel adventures... in all, 64 different "Gatherings to Go" are planned, for groups of people of varying sizes.
"You can sign up to be one of the attendees, or you can purchase an entire event," said Holmes Theatre administrator Amy Stoller Stearns, who was also one of the planners for the celebration.
"There's no bidding -- the prices are set," said Liz Huesman, development coordinator for the Historic Holmes Theatre, who also served as planning chair for the "Gatherings to Go."
"You just sign up for whatever you like, and if there's still a slot available, it's yours," she added. "You're purchasing an experience... our hope is to bring people together (through the various events)."
The "Gatherings to Go" are just one manifestation of the celebration's "Motion" theme, however. Each of the 22 tables set up for the event's gourmet dinner -- catered by Cheryl Bradbury of Convent on Reeves -- will be decorated with a unique motion theme, custom designed by that table's sponsor.
"Each table will be completely unique, but it will be decorated with some aspect of motion as its theme," said Huesman.
The gourmet dinner will be served on the main stage of the theater, and there will also be dancing to live music, with "The Marvels" as the featured performers.
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There will also be one-of-a-kind necklaces, designed especially for the occasion by artist Lynette Conley, for sale, along with other unique items such as table runners and mobiles.
"Everyone is invited, whether it's just for the dance, or the dinner too," Stearns said, noting that one of the purposes of the fund raiser is to be able to keep ticket prices down and attract major artists for the theater's seasonal lineup of shows.
"It's going to be a fun celebration of the arts in our community," Stearns added.
The public is invited to enjoy dinner on stage and dancing for $50 per ticket. But guests are welcome to come just for the dancing, which is $15 per person. For more information, call the Holmes Theatre Box Office at 218-844-SHOW (7469), or visit the online web site at www.motioncelebration.com .
