The Baltimore Rock Opera Society’s third annual fundraiser offers a chance to hear Baltimore’s finest rock-orchestral fusion hits, enjoy some good local eats and brews and, for the very lucky, win tickets to see “Hamilton” on Broadway.
BROS today announced it’s set March 11 as the date for its third “Swanktacular” gala fundraiser. At $60 a ticket, the benefit will raise money for the embattled rock opera troupe’s capital campaign for a permanent home.
The group’s Crowdrise page shows members have raised almost a third of their target goal of $75,000. They launched the campaign to acquire their own permanent facility shortly after being forced out of the Bell Foundry building, which housed their production and practice space. In the months after, a burglar stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of the group’s tools and the BROS band was temporarily shut out of its shared rehearsal studio in West Baltimore.
A main piece of the March gala is the silent auction, which will include a chance to win two coveted seats for a showing of “Hamilton” on Broadway on a date of the winner’s choice. BROS spokesman Tyler Merchant said Ron Chernow, co-creator of the world-famous musical, donated the tickets.
For entertainment, the Occasional Symphony, a 17-member grassroots orchestra, will be playing mashups with BROS members, as well as jazz-swing group Sarah Sullivan and the New Old Fashioneds. Their performances should sing inside the walls of the host venue, St. John’s of Baltimore United Methodist Church in Charles Village.
Also making an appearance will be the shadow puppets from BROS’ first-ever show, “Gründlehämmer.”
Beyond music, there’ll be plenty of great local eats, namely Hampden/Woodberry staples Birroteca and Blue Pit BBQ, and drinks from Charm City Meadworks, Union Craft and Devil’s Backbone breweries and Mobtown Fermentation, local producer of fine kombucha.
The gala will run from 7-11 p.m. on March 11. “Swanky” is the word of choice for guest attire.
Merchant said past years have “been more of a traditional BROS party with formal garb.” This year, the group is aiming “for a swankier feel for the Swank,” particularly due to the inclusion of the Occasional Orchestra.
Click here to get tickets.
An earlier version of this story said the two tickets to “Hamilton” would be free, when in fact they can be won in a silent auction.
