Tickets available for sesquicentennial gala

Tickets are still available for the Sesquicentennial Scholarship Gala, a grand event planned for Saturday, Feb. 6, that will feature original performances, fine dining and dancing until midnight.

Titled “A Time To Remember,” the event at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center promises to be a one-of-a-kind celebration of UW–Madison’s 150th birthday.

“With so many special events folded into this evening, the gala should be an entertaining and inspiring way to recognize the university’s legacy,” says Sesquicentennial Coordinator Peyton Smith. “Everything involved in the evening, from the food and exhibits to the music and theater performances, will have an original Wisconsin touch. We even have some surprises planned.”

The gala will run from 6 p.m. to midnight, beginning with a reception featuring jazz, dance and vocal showcases, photographic exhibits, and displays from schools and colleges. The reception will feature complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres. UW–Madison theater and drama students will be dressed in period costume.

The banquet featuring gourmet fare will begin at 8 p.m. An original drama, “A View From the Terrace,” will be performed during dinner, followed by UW–Madison’s very own big band ensemble, which will then invite partygoers to dance until midnight.

Tickets for the black-tie-optional gala are $150 per person; $85 is tax-deductible. Proceeds go to the Sesquicentennial Undergraduate Scholarship Fund. To order a ticket, contact Catherine Gray, (608) 262-4315. Reservation deadline is Jan. 29.

The gala begins a week-long celebration of UW–Madison’s birthday. Events begin with the unveiling of a sesquicentennial postal card on Friday, Feb. 5, at 6:15 p.m. in the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion at the Kohl Center, prior to the women’s basketball game. The Anniversary Concert at the Kohl Center on Sunday, Feb. 7, from 1-3 p.m., will feature more than 500 students in a musical tribute to the university. Tickets are on sale at the Kohl Center, 262-1440, and through Ticketmaster outlets.

A series of forums and panels are scheduled for Feb. 8-12. They will explore the future of the Wisconsin Idea; new horizons in science, such as stem cell research; and the next wave of Internet technology, among other topics. All are open to the public.