"Here's the highlight reel from the actual Gala. For those who couldn't attend this amazing fund raiser, I actually spoke for about 12 minutes, the event had live music for and of course the HUGE unveiling of our baby T-Rex, Draven, but our fabulous team of audiovisual techs put this together for us, for you..." ~Bill Carroll Founder of IPA
The Institute for the Performing Arts (IPA), held their first fund-raising Gala at the Stafford Regional Airport to announce the IPA and their travelling educational stage show “Travel Through Time” to the public. The highlight of the evening was the introduction of Draven, a life size baby Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The evening began with an open bar cocktail reception where guests had a chance to mingle, dine on delicious hors d’oeuvres provided by Caroline Street Catering, all the while enjoying live music performed by Fredericksburg musician Shannon Peterson.
The IPA founder, Bill Carroll, then addressed the audience and explained the concept of the IPA and the stage show. “Bringing the IPA and the stage show to life will consist of three different phases. The first phase is to create our amazing new travelling educational stage show “Travel Through Time” which is aimed at visiting schools nationwide, along with children’s museums, expo centers and special venues. This show will educate the audience by taking them to different periods in history via a Time Portal using interactive 4D technology, robotics, cutting edge animatronics and breathtaking special effects. The second phase will be to actually have this show tour the country and the final phase is the building of the actual Institute.”
He continued “My methodology for the Institute is to develop a new approach to performing arts training, housed at a state-of-the-art higher educational institution right here in the Fredericksburg area. Our style to creative learning is centered on a Performing Arts Teaching Network. Students will work alongside professionals in the entertainment industry to form a partnership that works together to create a performance or stage show. The purpose of this gala is to raise the funds to produce the stage show, the proceeds from the stage show will then be used to build and operate the school.”
He closed his speech by astounding the audience with Draven, who was patiently waiting on the tarmac ready to roar and pose for pictures with the guests. .
Everyone here at the Institute THANKS everyone who came out and supported the evening.
Please CLICK HERE to make a tax-free monetary donation.
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The Bill Carroll Foundation and the Arts Institute, will rely on the annual support of a large and loyal group of individual benefactors as well as people just like YOU who participate in our community and who has a love of the arts. By donating to the Foundation, you will instantly get a membership to the up-coming Institute (see website for details). In extremely grateful generosity, if you ever decide to contribute more to the Institute, it offers a variety of exclusive benefits to enrich each member's performing arts experience with additional levels of membership.
Support the The Bill Carroll Foundation and the Arts Institute here in Central Virginia to ensure that the finest arts and cultural education are made available to our community, today and for generations to come.
WFVA's Town Talk with Ted Schubel
LIVE Interview with Founder Bill Carroll
& Volunteer, Kevin Handy
Attend To Support One Of Our Special Events
When you contribute to the Institute of Performing Arts, you sustain a long tradition of support for the Arts in Virginia and your donation is fully tax deductible.
Your support helps keep the Arts in motion for Virginia and area youth. Your tax deductible donations allow us to expand our programming and make them available to the widest possible audience and because of your contributions, our school auditorium shows are free open to all students & faculty of that specific school and their parents when our "Keep Theatre In Our Schools" project is underway.
You may be inspired to give because the Arts have changed your life in some way and you want to give back. You may give to celebrate an important milestone or rite of passage in the life of someone you love. You may want to include a bequest in your will or a deferred gift in your estate planning.
Whatever the reason may be, with great appreciation the Institute of Performing Arts accepts these gifts.
For information on how to Volunteer for our events please contact our volunteer coordinator at
volunteer@LearnTheArts.org or call 540.412.7527
