New Orleans-style benefit helps Crescent City resident

The Albright Theatre presents "A Night to RE-New Orleans (one family at a time)," a benefit for Linda Jackson of the lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans.

The show will be held at 8 p.m. Dec. 22. The Albright is bringing New Orleans to Batavia with an entertaining evening of artists, live jazz, dance and a one-act play by Tennessee Williams.

The night will begin in "Jackson Square," featuring local visual artists Rosalie Waranius Vass of Batavia and Hans Kaiser of Batavia, followed by live jazz featuring Batavia High School students, including Adam Nicholson.

During a stroll along "Bourbon Street," the audience will enjoy the tap dance talents of First Street Dance Studio of Geneva.

The evening will close with "The Lady of Larkspur Lotion," written by Tennessee Williams and starring Jennifer Reeves-Wilson of Chicago, Jannette Spinks of Elgin, and Curt Welsh of St. Charles.

The cast also includes John Quirk and Erin Cauley, both of Elgin; John Dryden, Matt Holm, Axel Holm, all of Batavia; Mark Rowe of St. Charles; and Dan Vogel of Aurora.

The event originated with Batavia resident Lori Holm, who is producing and directing the performance.

The primary fundraising efforts have been generously sponsored by local businesses/venues as Avenue Chevy and the Albright Theatre board and Batavia residents John and Alena Dryden.

All money collected through ticket sales, concessions and donations will go directly to Linda Jackson and her family for the purpose of re-building their home in New Orleans.

Tickets are $20 each. Reservation for the one-night only performance can be made by calling the Albright Theatre at (630) 406-8838, option 1.