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6 pm
Cocktail Attire
Exciting Live Auction!
Highland Capital Performance Hall
1801 Exeter Road, Germantown TN 38138
Space is Limited!
Event Stylist
Ann Parker
Parker Design Studio
featuring
Chef Ryan Trimm
Across The Board Catering
Live Entertainment By R&B Showband
G3: Gary Goin Group
“Full Circle”
Lead Event Sponsor - $15,000
The Lead Event Sponsor receives a premier table for ten guests and prominent verbal recognition at the 2024 GPAC Gala, prominent placement of name or logo on all event signage and event program, recognition on the GPAC website with logo and link to your website, extensive recognition in pre and post social media with logo as a Lead Sponsor, recognition on digital billboard at Poplar and I-240, and four tickets to all 2024-2025 GPAC Presents shows, per request. The Full Circle Sponsor will also receive a full-page ad in the Season 30 Program, Vol. I and II. A portion of this sponsorship is tax deductible.
“Central”
Sponsored Table - $5,000
Table Sponsors enjoy premium seating for ten, extensive recognition in pre and post event social media, recognition on the GPAC website with logo and link to your website, and recognition in the gala program. Central Sponsors also receive a half-page ad in the Season 30 Program, Vol. I, and two tickets to all 2024-2025 GPAC Presents shows. A portion of this sponsorship is tax deductible.
Reserved Table - $3,500
Tables seat ten. A portion of the table price is tax deductible.
Individual Ticket - $350
For more information, please contact
Parke Kennedy, Director of Development
The 2025 Gala Committee
Chairs:
Sarah and Trey Watkins
Host Committee:
Dr. Esmond and Pam Arrindell
Susan and Damon Arney
Carrie and Trevor Benitone
Christina and Len Hester
Jennifer and Rich Hughes
Mary Jane and Matt May
Katy and Patrick O’Connor
Dr. Frank and Sarah Ognibene
Ann and Joel Parker
Ashley and Clay Presley
Eileen and Steve Wishnia
PARTICIPATING CHEF, ROEL MESTA
THE VILLAGE AT GERMANTOWN
PARTICIPATING CHEF, MATT BROWN
VILLA CASTRIOTI
PARTICIPATING CHEF, WILMER NOGUERA
MOONDANCE
EXCITING LIVE AUCTION! SNEAK PEEK!!
The Art of the Cocktail
Invite your guests to take center stage under the lights at GPAC! Back by popular demand, this sultry, lounge-style cocktail party for fifty to seventy-five guests on the main stage will feature specialty craft cocktails created by Master Mixologist Brad Pitts, tantalizing hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. This is the perfect way to celebrate a big birthday, toast an important anniversary, or gather with your work team. We’ll work with your preferences to create your new favorite cocktails and your event theme.
Your guests will be talking about the flavors and fun of this rare opportunity and memorable night for quite some time! Offer to be used before June 30, 2026 at a mutually agreed-upon time.
The Royal Studios Treatment
Give in to temptation and spend an evening immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of Memphis music history! An extraordinary evening for twenty at historic Royal Studios, one of the oldest continually operating recording studios in the world, where such notables as Al Green, Ike & Tina Turner and Rod Stewart came to record. Boo Mitchell—Grammy Award-winning producer of “Uptown Funk” with Bruno Mars—and his lovely mama Yvonne Mitchell will delight your senses with a private, behind-the-scenes tour to kick off the evening. Then, you will experience a treat like no other. Yvonne has cooked for Bruno Mars, John Mayer, Boz Scaggs and Melissa Etheridge (who ate nothing but Yvonne’s cooking for seven days straight!). For you, Yvonne will whip up some of the most comfortable comfort food you’ve ever tasted, infused with the family’s warm, homey hospitality. There will be live entertainment (it IS a recording studio, after all) and libations. By the end of the night, you will feel like part of the Royal family. Dinner for twenty, date to be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.
See, Swirl, Smell, and Sip
Enjoy a private wine dinner at your own home with ten to twelve of your favorite wine aficionado friends. You’ll start the evening with Kelley’s Katch caviar, bubbly and some live music and then sit down to enjoy an exclusive wine tasting led by Tiffany Werne, Senior Regional Director for Pasqua USA. A 30+-year veteran of the wine and spirits industry, Tiffany is a Certified Sommelier and recipient of the Frederick Wildman & Sons Top Performer Award, having helped put Tennessee on the map as a Top 10 Wine Sales Region in the U.S.
Kelley's Katch has been processing wholesome, sustainable caviar for nearly forty years. Publications like the Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker magazine have long recognized Kelley's Katch as one of the nation’s most well-respected producers of fine-quality sturgeon and paddlefish caviars. Processed in West Tennessee, their caviars are both wild caught and farm raised, and their list of faithful celebrity clients is extensive.
The Pasqua family founded Pasqua Winery in 1925 in Verona, in the heart of Veneto, a
countryside city between stunning Venice and Garda Lake. Verona is a Roman
Empire-founded city and the “capital” of Valpolicella, one of the most prestigious wine regions of Italy, boasting a millenia-long viticulture tradition. Pasqua was chosen as Wine Innovator of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2023. At your dinner, Tiffany will feature premier 90+ point wines from the Pasqua winery portfolio which will be paired with a menu selected and prepared by Memphis’ favorite Erling Jensen (Erling Jensen’s). You’ll embark on a journey of exploration, learning about the grape varietals that make the region shine, their history and the terroir—the combination of factors, including soil, climate and environment, that gives each wine its distinctive character.
Highly regarded Chef Jensen has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles in Memphis as well as in Food & Wine, Southern Living, and John Mariani’s Virtual Gourmet. Erling has cooked twice at the James Beard House in New York City and has received many distinctions, many times, including “Best Chef in Memphis,” “Best Restaurant in Memphis,” and Distinguished Restaurateur of the Year.”
This is dinner and wine tasting for ten to twelve in a private home between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
Under the Tuscan Sky - La Dolce Vita
Stay in the spectacular medieval town of Cortona, known around the world as the setting for the book and movie Under the Tuscan Sun. A charming hilltop town, Cortona is truly a gem, framed on the horizon with soft hills and the wide expanse of Lake Trasimeno. The town’s easy, relaxed vibe will capture your heart as you stroll past its countless restaurants, quaint boutiques, artisanal shops and friendly cafes. Cortona is strategically located between Florence, Rome, Siena, Assisi and the wine regions of Montepulciano, Montalcino and Chianti, making it the perfect base for exploring Tuscany!Stay in a charming apartment for six evenings, situated in the heart of town, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a comfortable and attractive living area. The apartment is merely steps away from the main square of town and from everything you might need during your stay.
Includes an informative three-hour private walking tour with a professional local guide who will share with you all the secrets of one of the oldest towns of Tuscany. You will also enjoy a fabulous wine tasting in the coolest wine bar in town located in the main square. A wine expert will lead you on a fabulous journey discovering different wines that come from one of the most iconic wine regions in the world. You will have a personal concierge to arrange extra activities and anything else you desire during your stay.
This is a package for four adults. Reservations and accommodations are based on availability. If the above-pictured apartment is not available during your preferred travel dates, it may be substituted for a similar apartment of equal value.
*Includes all taxes except tourist tax.
**A travel professional to assist with additional flights, excursions, and experiences beyond those included in the package is available at an additional fee.
***Blackout Dates: December 20 - January 7. Upon completion of purchase, bid winner will receive a traveler booking form and has one year from the event date (April 5) to submit the form to reservations@philantopia.com and complete travel. All packages are non-returnable, non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
Watch Party in The Grove
This is a UNIQUE opportunity to host your own watch party for a sporting event or movie of your choice in the incomparable outdoor space that is The Grove at GPAC. Invite seventy-five of your closest friends, family or colleagues for an evening or afternoon in The Grove watching something of your choosing on the giant 18’ x 31’ extreme high-definition video wall. With a full bar and light live music upon arrival, you are sure to have a fantastic time. Note: This package does not include food, but GPAC is happy to share our catering list or assist with organizing a food truck. Dates and times subject to availability.
Romantic Italy - Amalfi Coast Getaway
Ready to spend five nights in a nifty little apartment in the heart of Amalfi? Enjoy the splendor of the beautiful Amalfi coast, with its dramatic coastlines, precipitous mountains, stunning vertical landscapes sprinkled with lush forests, and picturesque villages. Not only will you be seduced by the spectacular views, but also by the tantalizing flavors of the local cuisine. The area is home to numerous superb restaurants and your personal concierge can assist you in providing not only restaurant recommendations but also extra activities, tours and transportation during your stay .
The charming and newly renovated apartment features one bedroom, a living room with a fully equipped kitchen, and a balcony overlooking one of the cutest squares in Amalfi. You will be steps from Piazza Duomo and meters away from the pier from which ferries depart for Capri, Ischia and Positano, as well as all boats for fun sea excursions.
Thanks to soil composition, weather conditions and proximity to the sea, local lemons are of superb quality and lemons are one of the most famous products of the Amalfi coast. During your stay, you will enjoy a fascinating visit to a lemon farmhouse, walk among lemon groves and see the farmers at work. You will taste the refreshing natural lemonade, tasty lemon cake and discover the secrets of other products made from local lemons.
This is a package for two adults. Reservations and accommodations are based on availability. If the pictured apartment is not available during your preferred travel dates, it may be substituted for a similar apartment of equal value.
*Includes all taxes except tourist tax.
**A travel professional to assist with additional flights, excursions and experiences beyond those included in the package is available at an additional fee.
***Blackout Dates: December 20-January 7. Upon completion of purchase, bid winner will receive a traveler booking form and has one year from the event date (April 5) to submit the form to reservations@philantopia.com and complete travel. All packages are non-returnable, non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
An Evening with Sutton Foster - Dinner & Show!
We are opening our 31st Season with a bang. Germantown’s own, two-time Tony Award winning actress, singer and dancer Sutton Foster will grace our stage for “An Evening with Sutton Foster”.
“It was, from start to finish, an exquisite and elegant entertainment, always prompting a smile and a laugh, eliciting a sigh or a squeal, and commanding the attention of the sold-out Carnegie Hall auditorium.”
– Broadway World
Fresh from her highly anticipated Broadway return as “Marian” in the revival of The Music Man, opposite Hugh Jackman, Sutton returns to Memphis to entertain and delight. The four course pre-show dinner with wine and cocktails will take place either outside in The Grove VIP or in a unique space indoors, weather dependent. The menu will be created by The Capital Grille’s Executive Chef Sidney Oliver and will feature a delectable four-course meal, artfully prepared using only the freshest ingredients.
This is dinner and theater for ten on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
Provided by Executive Chef Sidney Oliver (The Capital Grille) and GPAC
Pre-Show Soirée
It’s dinner and a show at GPAC! You’ll dine in the elegantly appointed Watkins Studio Theater on a delicious four-course meal paired with wine, prepared by talented Executive Chef Ryan Trimm (117 Prime, Sunrise Memphis, Across the Board Catering). Trimm was named 2023 Memphis Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year!
Après soirée, you and your guests will take your premium seats in the magnificent GPAC theater for a memorable performance by a true icon of modern music, the incomparably talented Herbie Hancock. Hancock has received an Academy Award and has won 14 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Now in the seventh decade of his professional life, he remains where he has always been: at the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music. Recently named by the Los Angeles Philharmonics as Creative Chair for Jazz, he currently also serves as Institute Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, the foremost international organization devoted to the development of jazz performance and education worldwide. Hancock was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2011, received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2013, and was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He is currently in the studio at work on a new album.
This is dinner and theater for ten on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Music Festivities for Music Lovers!
Memphis is music. From Americana to hip hop, we're sure these music festivals will move your soul. Take your two VIP passes to five of Memphis’ most unique music fests and see some of the world’s best artists and bands perform live!
April 19, 2025 - Shell Daze Music Festival
Lettuce, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge, The Velvet Dogs and Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country headline this outdoor music fest at Overton Park Shell. With your VIP pass, you'll get access to an exclusive viewing deck, early entry and a private discounted bar. https://overtonparkshell.org/eventpage/shelldaze-23
May 2-4, 2025 - Riverbeat Music Festival
This new music fest came to town last year with headliners The Fugees, Odesza and Jelly Roll rocking the Mississippi Riverfront. RiverBeat Music Fest is returning to Tom Lee Park in 2025 with more than 50 bands gathering for three days along the Mighty Mississippi. This year's headliners include Missy Elliot, Anderson.Paak & The Free Nationals and The Killers. https://riverbeat.com/experience
May 15-17, 2025 - SMOKESlam
The World’s Ultimate BBQ Showdown and music festival is back! Teams from all over the country will compete for over $250,000, the largest prize in BBQ history. Bring your empty belly to historic Tom Lee Park for a fully inclusive and interactive experience celebrating the craft and culture of our legendary BBQ, as well as music, art, and all things Memphis. Past music lineup includes WAR, The Bar-Kays, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Hope Clayburn & Soul Scrimmage, Mustache The Band, Noisy Cats Are We, Memphis Harvest Band, and Mixtape: featuring Tone Loc, Rob Base, Young MC, DJ M. Walk. https://smokeslam.com/experience
June 27, 2025 The Outlaw Music Festival Tour
The Outlaw Music Festival Tour 2025 is coming to Memphis! Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles and Tami Neilson will take the stage at Radians Amphitheater in the biggest Outlaw Tour to date.
https://blackbirdpresents.com/concert/outlaw-music-festival-tour-2025/
Oct. 3-5, 2025 Mempho Music Festival
Radians Amphitheater at Memphis Botanic Garden plays host to the annual multi-day Mempho Music Festival, featuring some of music’s biggest names as well as a variety of local Memphis favorites. Past lineups have included acts such as Post Malone, Wu Tang Clan, Widespread Panic, The Raconteurs and Billy Strings. The natural beauty of the lush Memphis Botanic Garden provides the perfect backdrop for one of the most anticipated outdoor music events in the region. https://memphofest.com/
Note: VIP perks will vary from festival to festival. For more information go to the festival’s website.
Provided by Mempho Presents and Kevin McEniry
Zulu Nyla African Safari Package
This package for two includes 6 nights at Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodgem 3 delicious buffet meals per day, 2 game-viewing activities per day guided by professional game rangers on Zulus Nyala Game Resers, and access to swimming pools, bars, spa, gym, lush gardens, resident wildlife, restaurant areas and more. It also includes all taxes and resort fees.
Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve provides a unique bush experience in the heart of one of South Africa’s most diverse conservation regions. Nestled between the wilderness reserves of Mkuze, Hluhluwe, St Lucia and Sodwana Bay, this lush stretch of paradise is home to a wide variety of game, from the majestic elephant to rhino, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, the secretive leopard and cheetah and the shy Nyala antelope that are endemic to the region.
The privately owned reserve is home to over 40 different species of animal and magnificent birdlife. A large variety of game reserve activities and excursions are available to all guests of Zulu Nyala Heritage
Safari Lodge and Hemingway Tented Camp.The Heritage Safari Lodge was originally built in the 1940s as a hotel and was a landmark pitstop for weary travelers between Maputo and Durban. Acquired in 1996, the gracious building was lovingly restored to its original grandeur, enhanced with new accommodations, and tastefully themed to highlight Zululand’s unique cultural heritage.
**Accommodations are in a standard guest room with a king bed or two twins and are based on availability. This package excludes: airfare, airport transfers, drinks, laundry and extra excursions. Includes all taxes except tourist tax. Upon completion of purchase, bid winner will receive a traveler booking form and has one year from the event date to submit the form to reservations@philantopia.com and book the trip. Travel must be completed within two years from the event date/purchase. Package is non-returnable, non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
Golf Package for Fore!
This is a golf package for four with an overnight stay at Old Waverly. Since its founding in 1988, Old Waverly has been highly regarded as one of the truly unique private clubs in all of the United States. Developed on the site of the historic Waverly Mansion, the club has become a world-class destination for golf and hospitality in the heart of the Mississippi Black Prairie.
U.S. Open winner Jerry Pate and course designer Bob Cupp were enlisted to craft the golf course from the undeveloped nature of 360 acres of pasture. The golf course opened in September 1988 to rave reviews, and has been a fixture among various “Best Of” lists, including recognition as the top residential golf course in Mississippi.
Your foursome will enjoy a round of golf on the Old Waverly course in West Point, Mississippi and accommodations (for up to eight guests) in Mossy Oak Fox Cottage. The Cottages are situated on the tenth fairway of the Mossy Oak Golf Course and provide spectacular views overlooking the course. Each cottage offers a spacious common area with a sitting area, wet bar, coffee maker and ice maker. Additionally there are four individual bedrooms, each with two queen beds, and a private bath, and HD Direct TV in all rooms. Dinner at the Clubhouse can be booked by calling to make a reservation.
This package excludes dinner and the cart fee, and must be booked during a weekday. Note: The Mossy Oak Course is undergoing renovations.
GPAC Gala 2024
Special Thanks to our sponsors!
