Merivale’s est. Hosts Kevin Spacey Foundation’s Sydney Fundraiser
30.11.2011
To celebrate the arrival of The Bridge Project with Richard III in Sydney, and to raise funds for its education programs, Kevin Spacey hosted an intimate, private dinner at Merivale’s three hatted est. yesterday evening.
All proceeds from the dinner and funds raised at the event were donated to the Kevin Spacey Foundation, which supports arts education and the nurturing of emerging talent. The current project, Richard’s Rampage, ambitiously spans 11 countries, connecting students and emerging artists on stage, in schools and online. Guests turning out to support the cause included Kevin Spacey, Justin Hemmes Brett Lee, Hugh Sheridan, Mick Doohan and Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull, to name a few.
Guests were welcomed with a Verve Champagne reception before taking their seats for a night of entertainment provided by the 14 year old Australia’s Got Talent winner and singing sensation, Jack Vidgen, who received a standing ovation from the crowd after his first song, Adele’s Rolling in the Deep and later sang the classic, ‘At Last’ at the request of his audience. Guests were also treated to impromptu acoustic numbers by actor/singer Hugh Sheridan and Kevin Spacey himself.
Award-winning head chef of est., Peter Doyle designed an extravagant menu consisting of salad of spanner crab, steamed coral trout with shaved abalone, and a summer dessert of red berries, crème fraiche sorbet and strawberry juice. All dishes were expertly matched by Merivale’s Master Sommelier, Franck Moreau.
To remind guests why they were all there, auctioneer, Edward Riley successfully sold five money-can’t-buy experiences including tickets to Kevin Spacey’s Sydney show Richard III, which was sold for a jaw-dropping $200,000, contributing to the total sum raised, which was over $350,000.
A Kevin Spacey Foundation spokesman said, “We would like to thank Merivale for hosting our inaugural event in Australia and Peter Doyle for his indulgent menu. It was a terrific evening and greatly enjoyed by our guests.”
As a result, NSW schools will be fortunate enough to be involved in the Richard’s Rampage workshops and introduced to theatre in an engaging, and accessible way.
For more information on the Kevin Spacey Foundation and Richard’s Rampage, visit www.kevinspaceyfoundation.com. For more info on est. and Merivale, visit www.merivale.com.
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For media information, contact PR Manager, Merivale 02 9240 3000
Notes to editor:
- Originally a fashion house, Merivale, owned by the Hemmes family has been established in Australia for over 45 years. The Hemmes family are developing and operating pioneers within the hospitality industry, owning a portfolio of restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels in Sydney. Justin Hemmes is the Chief Executive Officer of Merivale.
- The Kevin Spacey Foundation supports young actors, writers, directors and producers with the passion and potential to succeed in the competitive worlds of film.