A-Muse-athon raises $300k for Sonoma Community Center

The Sonoma Community Center’s annual gala, transformed from a fancy summer cocktail party into an era-correct virtual Skype event, raised over $300,000. The “aMUSE-athon” was hosted by performers Eric Jackson and Ellen Toscano live from the center’s Andrews Hall, decked out in full telethon mode.

Sam and Carol Morphy were honored as the center’s “Muses” for 2020, and received video tributes from their three children. They also donated a tasty auction item: the  $2,400 high bidder will have a Red Grape pizza named after them.

The prop-heavy production — complete with operators standing by to take auction calls, and a wild animal — showcased the talents of Toscano (10 years onstage with Beach Blanket Babylon) and Jackson, from Broadway Under The Stars. Catch a replay at sonomacommunitycenter.org/muse.

— Photos by William Murray