A Broadway Dream of an Evening

Gordon Jewish Community Center’s Big Night Out

Through a “stage door” entrance, guests emerged into a room full of strung-up Playbills and matching decor. Eager for the main event, attendees of Big Night Out partook of a nosh table — laden with a multitude of hummuses, breads, bruschetta and fresh veggies — as they surveyed auction items during the cocktail hour.

The silent auction — decked out in black, white and red — seemed to be a favorite part of the evening. In addition to gift cards for many of Nashville’s best restaurants and attractions, there were a few surprises mixed in, like a drone flight class, pickleball lessons and four tickets to Nashville Wine Auction’s Wined Up! at City Winery. After the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed a three-course dinner before the show began.

Directed by Randy Craft, the cast included Anthony Lee Medina (Hamilton), Alisa Melendez (Almost Famous), Brandon Contreras (Almost Famous), Marina Kondo (K-POP) and Morgan “morgxn” Karr (Spring Awakening). This year’s Big Night Out — Broadway Comes to Nashville — was a star-studded musical tribute to legendary Jewish Broadway composers and how their work shaped musical theater. This musical evening paid homage to celebrated composers like Oscar Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim with selections from Tony Award-winning musicals like Oklahoma!, Sunday in the Park With George, The Sound of Music, Hamilton and more.

Big Night Out was a magical night of singing and acting, celebrating over 115 years of important work done by the Gordon Jewish Community Center. Fundraising events like this allow the Gordon JCC to continue their work for generations to come because the Gordon JCC is a place that welcomes all, builds fellowship and provides programs rooted in Jewish values to enrich the mind, body and spirit. Within their walls, members gather together to meet, play, learn, celebrate and be part of the community.

BY KARIN MATHIS