Anyone looking for "An Evening on Broadway" in Orangeburg won't have to look any further than a local animal shelter's fund-raiser to support facility renovation and operational costs.

Dr. and Mrs. Jason Gregory will hold a Paws for a Cause Dinner Theatre Fundraiser for the Maude Schiffley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at The Cinema.

Held under the theme "An Evening on Broadway," the event will raise money to enhance the shelter's current facility at 225 Ruf Road and its programs.

"This is a very exciting time for our organization because we have renovated our shelter and so, of course, some of the funds will be utilized to assist with that," said Sheila Gregory, vice president of the Maude Schiffley Chapter of the SPCA. "But the funds will also be used for daily operation costs at the shelter, as well as our education program that we now have in four local schools and day cares with the Dog Bite Prevention Program."

Gregory said the format for this year's third Paws for a Cause fund-raiser will represent a slight departure from previous years.

"We have departed from our usual style of offering a silent auction with hors d'oeuvres. This year, we will offer guests a seated meal with entree selections, either fillet mignon, grilled chicken or a vegetarian option. It will be followed by a theatrical production from the Orangeburg Part-Time Players," Gregory said.

"It's essentially a dinner theater-type of fund-raiser rather than the traditional cocktail-type event, where you just mingle with guests and bid on auction items," she said. "There will be no silent auction at this event, and we will have a brief cocktail period prior to guests being served dinner. This evening's festivities will conclude with the drawing of our 50-50 cash prize."

The Kuckery will cater this year's meal. While a cash bar will be available, wine will be included with the meal as well as nonalcoholic beverages during the cocktail period.

OPTP President Daryl Cate described the OPTP's production as a "Broadway revue-type show."

"There are selections from different Broadway musicals and different acting scenes. It's kind of a combination of lots of different shows put together. There will be a little something for everyone," he said. "There are also going to be some characters from some well-known shows that will be mingling and greeting the audience to kind of get the audience involved a little more."

Cate said OPTP members will also be performing selections from their upcoming show "South Pacific," which will be staged Nov. 13-15 and 20-22 at the BlueBird Theatre.

Matt Quay, talent director for the fund-raiser's dinner theater production, said the OPTP has assembled a variety of performers who will showcase everything from vocal to comedic talent.

"We have soloists lined up, and we have a spot where we're going to showcase dramatic acting that's called 'The Audition.' It showcases dramatic acting and also the vulnerability of being in front of a panel of directors," Quay said. "We have another nonmusical piece, a mini-comedy designed to demonstrate chemistry between characters and comedic writing. 'I'm Herbert' is the name of the piece, and it is hilarious."

An act performed as a salute to the bygone vaudeville days and which Quay compared to a production from the mega-successful Blue Man Group will also be included in the show. Talent from the Junior OPTP's program will be showcased, as well.

"We're trying to show all facets of the Orangeburg Part-Time Players," Quay said. "It's just a revue of all the aspects of theater and Broadway, from the auditions to the polished pieces. Our plan is to just bring all the facets of theater together. Hopefully, the arrangement will be entertaining."

Gregory said the entertainment and meal will be accompanied by the dissemination of information on the organizations renovation and future goals.

"We also use this event to educate people about what our organization is actually designed to do, which is secure homes for needy animals and provide education to the public about animal cruelty," Gregory said. "We've also just implemented a new low-cost spay/neuter program for the community."

Tickets for the Paws for a Cause Dinner Theatre Fundraiser are $100 per person. Tickets to enter the 50-50 drawing, which will be sold up to the day of the event, are $10 each. Ticket holders don't have to be present to win. The evening's attire is business-casual.

For more information or tickets, call Sheila Gregory at 803-928-2778 or e-mail sgregory3974@yahoo.com.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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