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'Heart For Art Gala' Set For Feb. 21

By Cheryl Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: February 14, 2009

Next Saturday, the spirits of Roaring 20s Model Ts, flappers and the Charleston will reincarnate to bless an event featuring a gallery of photographs of children waiting for adoption.

At the Feb. 21 "Heart for Art Gala - Some Like It Hot at Charlie's" pictures of about 70 foster children wanting to be adopted will be unveiled at the Progress Energy Art Gallery in downtown New Port Richey. The event also includes an art stroll, silent auction, wine tasting and dinner by the bite in the downtown area. In addition, the Richey Suncoast Theatre will contribute live entertainment.

The Heart Gallery movement pairs children awaiting adoption with professional photographers. Their pictures put a human face on the statistics of adoptable children.

In this area, the Progress Energy Heart Gallery of Pinellas & Pasco is an independent charitable organization that partners with Progress Energy, Safe Children Coalition of Pasco and Pinellas and professional photographers.

The host for the event is Progress Energy Art Gallery and Greater New Port Richey Main Street. Attendees are invited to come in 1920s attire and enjoy dinner by the bite and one drink at the 727 Lounge on Grand Boulevard. They can stroll Grand Boulevard and view art by area artists and participate in a silent art auction and wine tasting at the gallery.

Activities at the New Port Richey event loosely center on the Billy Wilder comedy "Some Like It Hot."

The classic movie that takes place in Florida in the 1920s and features two down-on-their-luck musicians, portrayed by Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, who disguise themselves as women to get jobs in an all-girl band. There, they fall for the band vocalist, played by Marilyn Monroe.

In the local version, the name Charlie is heard. This is a reference to Charlie Skelton, managing director of the Richey Suncoast Theatre, where the entertainment portion of the evening takes place.

At the theater, participants can enjoy a live, old-fashioned radio play and a vaudeville song and dance from "EXPRESSIONS" The dance company, a Port Richey, nonprofit organization that gives young dancers a chance to perform.

Additionally, Marilyn Monroe and her band will appear. The band seems to be an all-girl band, but in keeping with the "Some Like It Hot" theme, organizers warn appearances can be deceiving.

The theater will all also feature scenes from "Some Like It Hot" and the Charlie Chaplin film "Modern Times."

Tickets are $25 and include dinner by the bite, one drink and admission to the performances at the theater. They are on sale at the gallery or online at www.nprgallery.com.

The event is 6 - 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Progress Energy Art Gallery is at 6231 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey.

Schedule of Events

6 - 8 p.m. at Progress Energy Art Gallery

Heart Gallery

Silent Auction

Art Stroll

Wine Tasting

At 727 Lounge Speakeasy, Dinner by the Bite

At Richey Suncoast Theatre, "Modern Times" and Betty Boop

8 - 10 p.m. at Richey Suncoast Theatre

Official unveiling of Progress Energy Heart Gallery

Radio Play