Like last year's Jump Back Ball (pictured here), performers will provide entertainment throughout the evening, including a polka band and juggling troupe. (photo from cleveland.metromix.com)
With a little over a month left until this year’s Jump Back Ball, PlayhouseSquare and Partners are finalizing the details on this special 20th anniversary celebration. From the food to the activities, here’s the rundown on some of the things you’ll find on February 26th at Jump Back Ball 2011.
The Food:
Every ticket to Jump Back Ball includes a gourmet buffet dinner from Sammy’s served inside of the State Theatre. Although the menu hasn’t been finalized, the Jump Back Ball Committee and PlayhouseSquare are working on an Around the World dinner to fit the Passport to Party theme. In addition to being the exclusive caterer for PlayhouseSquare, Sammy’s is featured at other Cleveland landmarks including Severance Hall, the Western Reserve Historical Society and Hale Farm & Village.
VIP ticketholders will also be treated to appetizers from AMP 150, the restaurant at the Cleveland Airport Marriott that’s been garnering a lot of attention for its reasonably priced fine dining. A(merica’s) M(odern) P(alette) 150 has a frequently changing menu that uses local, seasonal and unique ingredients – a creative and appetizing approach they’ll be bringing to the pre-party. As I mentioned in my last post, their involvement in the VIP hour is one of the reasons I sprung for those tickets. If you haven’t tried AMP 150 yet, you’ll have your chance before Jump Back Ball by attending the next Ticket Sales Happy Hour on Feb. 8.
To complement the dinner, Jump Back Ball features an unlimited open bar throughout the evening. Highlights from previous years’ parties will be back including the martini ice bar.
Sammy's and AMP 150 will be providing the food for the dinner buffet and VIP party.
The Entertainment:
There will be plenty of other things to do in addition to noshing and drinking. As part of the evening’s Oktoberfest celebration, polka fans like me can look forward to the polka band during dinner. After dinner, The Menus – hailing from Cincinnati and often see in Put-in Bay – will play on the State Theatre stage throughout the evening. And for late night dancing, the top-40s band Radio Active will be featured in the theatre lobby.
I’ll be bringing a little bit of spending money for the gambling tables, silent auctions and raffles. Items up for bid include gift certificates to local restaurants, an autographed jersey by Browns player Joe Thomas, and the opportunity to have a dinner prepared in the winner’s home by a private chef. The major raffle of the evening, though, is for the chance to continue partying around the world after Jump Back Ball is over – the winner of this raffle gets a 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise throughout the Mediterranean for 2.
There will also be activities specific to the year’s theme. PlayhouseSquare takes guests to international festivals with photo opportunities at the Running of the Bulls and Quebec Winter Festival. In honor of the Thailand Full Moon Party, jugglers from the St. Ignatius High School Circus Company will perform, and a caricature artist will be doing Oktoberfest-themed sketches.
In addition to the auction items up for bid, the main raffle of the evening will be for a 7-night Mediterranean Cruise for two.
Thanks to Partners Coordinator Molly Franz and Jump Back Ball Committee co-chair Sheri Terens for sharing a behind-the-scenes look into their planning and some of the highlights I can look forward to at the party.
In addition to next month’s Ticket Happy Hour at AMP 150, there are plenty of opportunities to purchase tickets before they sell out. If you’ve bought your tickets, though, and now find yourself trying to get ready for the evening, next week’s entry is going to focus on a few suggestions for first-timers I’ve been picking up in my own planning.
You can find out more about this benefit for PlayhouseSquare by reading the previous posts in my Jump Back Ball series.
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