Against a backdrop of live music and a Great Gatsby theme, Spotlight Academy recently raised more than $12,000 at its Cabaret Night fundraiser.
The nonprofit organization hosted the event on Feb. 8 at Flossmoor Community House, treating attendees to a full band fronted by Spotlight founder and executive director Carrie Bonanotte.
“The event was amazing,” Bonanotte said. “I couldn’t have been happier with the planning of everything, and it seems like everyone had a great time.”
Attendees bought raffle tickets for chances to win their choice of more than 50 raffle prizes, including gift certificates to sporting events, theater performances and restaurants, as well as themed baskets stuffed with goodies. They could also bid on 11 silent auction prizes, all donated by local businesses and individuals.
The crowd of about 120 people could purchase food and drinks to enjoy while they mingled and watched the performance. Music was the evening’s focus, as a full band entertained the crowd with an eclectic set of songs, everything from the jazz standard “All of Me” to the Chappell Roan pop hit “Pink Pony Club.”
Performance Academy’s Cabaret Night fundraiser on Feb. 8.
(Carole Sharwarko/H-F Chronicle)
Bonanotte fronted a full band that included Homewood Village Manager Napoleon Haney on keyboard, Homewood-Flossmoor High School Choir Director Steven Sifner on piano, Doug Rafferty playing saxophone and guitar, Michael Colton on bass, Bill Colton on guitar, Anne Colton on drums, and Bonanotte’s husband, Joey, playing trumpet.
In addition to Bonanotte, singers included Jenny Krystosek, Angie Pope and Raffety.
Andrea Tucker, a singer with Spotlight’s Community Choir, was head of the event’s organizing committee. She said it felt natural to plan an event based around music.
“I wanted to focus on what Spotlight brings to the community,” Tucker said. “We’ve done car washes, things like that, but I wanted the event to be more about what Spotlight does. That’s why we decided it should be performance-based.”
Spotlight Performance Academy provides opportunities for singing, acting and other types of performance to children and adults in the South Suburbs. Its singing programs include the Bel Canto Children’s Choir; the adult Community Choir, which grew from 12 members in 2019 to more than 80 today; and the newly formed Voices of Power, a choir focused on songs of the African diaspora and religious music.
The nonprofit organization also hosts improv classes, summer musical camps, mini-musical programs, and Miss Angie’s Music Makers class for kids.
Community Choir, were on the organizing committee for its
Cabaret Night fundraiser on Feb. 8 at Flossmoor Community
House. (Carole Sharwarko/H-F Chronicle)
“We just finished a storytelling class for adults,” Bonanotte said. “We’re really trying to respond to what the community wants. We have grown so quickly in a short amount of time, we can see that we’re really fulfilling a need.”
Money collected from the cabaret fundraiser will help in part to support scholarships for people who need financial assistance to join one of Spotlight’s programs, said Tucker.
“We never turn anyone away. That’s part of what we’re raising funds for, to make sure that we never say no. Everyone who wants to participate in our program gets in,” she said. “If you want to have music and theater and improv in your life, if you want to do something like this that’s good for your soul, finances shouldn’t be a barrier.”
Spotlight programs also provide a chance for neighbors to connect. Karlie Sherman, of Homewood, is a member of the Community Choir. She was in the choir for a only short time when her husband, Joe, decided to join, too. Soon, their kids got in on the act.
“He said, ‘You seem to be having a very good time and all of a sudden you seem to have a lot of friends. Maybe I want to get in on this,’” Sherman said. “I love that Spotlight is the only offering in Homewood and Flossmoor that interests every member of my household. There’s programming for everyone who lives in our home. It’s a one-stop shop.”
Spotlight Performance Academy’s Cabaret Night fundraiser with
his husband, Quadree Holmes. (Carole Sharwarko/H-F Chronicle)
Leslie Bolser’s family also has multiple members in Spotlight programs. Bolser said the organization provides a pathway to perform creatively, an enjoyment she remembered from her childhood and was happy to reinvigorate.
“Carrie is so supportive and inspiring,” Bolser said. “Also, you don’t have to read music. You don’t have to have a music background, which is really nice too.”
Spotlight’s programs welcome participants regardless of their experience or skill level.
Bonanotte said Spotlight’s next big goal is finding a permanent home. The organization that started in her living room now meets at Homewood Science Center, for which Bonanotte expressed gratitude. But she said it’s time for Spotlight to have its own space.
“One hard thing for us is that we don’t have our own space. We’re really grateful to the science center, where we have our programs, but having a permanent space for music and theater is a long-term goal,” Bonanotte said.
