2025: Neon Groove Ball
Our 2025 Annual Fundraising Gala took place on Saturday, April 26 at The Westin San Jose and brought back big hair, bold colors, and even bigger heart.
City Lights favorites hit the stage with their renditions of iconic ‘80s hits, while guests bid in our live and online auctions—all in support of the theater we love.
With plenty of neon, nostalgia, and community spirit, we danced the night away and raised vital funds to keep the creativity alive at City Lights Theater Company.
It was totally rad!
2024: Black & White Time Warp Ball
Our 2024 Annual Fundraising Gala was on Saturday, April 27 at The Westin San Jose and celebrated some of City Lights’ favorite artists.
We had some artist sing their favorite tunes, while others captivated the room and shared stories and memories about this lovely theater and it’s wonderful people
We loved lifting up the unending talent in our community and thoroughly enjoyed started the excitement for our 2024 summer musical, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show.”
2023: Ruby Jubilee 40th Anniversary Auction & Gala
Our 2024 Annual Fundraising Gala was on Saturday, April 27 at The Westin San Jose and celebrated some of City Lights’ favorite artists.
We had some artist sing their favorite tunes, while others captivated the room and shared stories and memories about this lovely theater and it’s wonderful people
We loved lifting up the unending talent in our community and thoroughly enjoyed started the excitement for our 2024 summer musical, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show.”
2022: A Hotsy Totsy Fundraising Auction
May 7 marked the first big in-person City Lights party in three years. And what a party it was!!
Thank you for joining us to raise funds for the theater, and to honor Executive Artistic Director Lisa Mallette’s 20th anniversary with CLTC. Our Hotsy Totsy Fundraising Auction was a blast, and extra kudos to those of you who wore your Gatsby best. The ’20s are finally roaring again.
2021: Online auction
Oh, Covid. We were all set to come back to in-person partying in 2021, but the Delta variant thwarted our plans. Still, we had a terrific online auction with wonderful bidders, amazing auction items and our beloved City Lights community.
Our favorite auction items included: a personal freestyle rap / voicemail message by Broadway actor James Monroe Iglehart, a private sailboard charter cruise on the Bay by SailNow!, and a cottage getaway in the Gold Country.
![[image: Pottery bowls by Keenan Flagg]](https://cltc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/keenan_bowls_website.jpg)
2020: Pajama Gala
Though nothing this year happened according to plan, our pandemic-era Pajama Gala was a surprising success. Embracing the stay-at-home vibe, we partied on Twitch with our dapper host, Tasi Alabastro. The dress code was cozy, the drinks were BYO cocktail or chamomile, and video and live performers included Jackie Gage, Ren Geisick and Sangin’ Sara.
Afterwards, we took our traditional after-party to Zoom for an informal hangout. Overall, we had a fundraising goal of $25,000 and took in $30, 573. Further proof that the City Lights family is the absolute best.
![[image: City Lights' Anne Younan, Lisa Mallette and Tasi Alabastro partying on Twitch]](https://cltc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/CityLights_2020_pajama_gala.jpg)
2019: Come to the Cabaret
The beautiful La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos hosted this theatrical evening that paid tribute to our hit summer musical Cabaret. We dined, sang, enjoyed live performances, and threw a spirited live auction. In here, life was beautiful.
Highlights included watching Executive Artistic Director Lisa Mallette sing “Someone To Watch Over Me” with ASL interpreter and actor Stephanie Foisy interpreting. But no one could forget seeing our resident scenic designer, Ron Gasparinetti, celebrate with partner Steve Cortopassi when they won a trip to Tuscany!
2018: City Lights’ 35th anniversary
Photos and posters from the company’ 35 seasons were the decor as we celebrated at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo was our honored guest (and presented City Lights with a special commendation!) as we enjoyed cocktails, dining and a silent & live auction. The bidding was fast and furious!
2017: “Axes and Ohhhs!”
At this year’s gala, we partied in the style of our summer rock musical LIZZIE. “Axes & Ohhhhs!” offered a dinner at the historic Fallon House & Garden, a performance of LIZZIE at City Lights, and an after-hours dance party at the theater.
2016: “Rock Revolution Revival”
We channeled our inner rock stars and dressed up for a party held at Strike Brewing Company in San Jose. It was all in the spirit of our summer musical, Green Day’s American Idiot. Partygoers spotted an “Axl Rosette” dancing with Johnny Cash, along with an eerily lookalike Prince.
