Fundraiser brings back 60s with style


Brian Blair - Senior Reporter

The songs were old, but the enthusiasm was like new at the 31st annual unCommon Cause Gala Saturday at The Commons. The event offering "Suds: The Musical" brought 1960s music to life , and brought back styles ranging from pillbox hats to taped nerd eyeglasses.

The comic production with classic rock from a Florida theater troupe also provided a slight shift in demographics.

"We've got a younger crowd than before," said the Columbus Area Arts Council's Donna Stouder as she looked over the gathering. "And we have a lot of first-time attendees."

The Cause, featuring a dinner and a silent and public auction, raises money for the Columbus Museum of Art and Design and for the arts council's programs at The Commons, much of which is free to the public.

Organizers estimated that the auctions had generated $39,000 from the 350 attendees " 80 to 100 more than attended last year's "Tony 'n Tina's Wedding" comedy.

"We've had so much fun," said Ellen Macy, a Cause co-chair with Laura Moses.

Her outfit showed she meant it. She wore black high-top Chuck Taylor canvas basketball shoes to match black slacks and a partially black top.

"This may be the first time I've ever gone out dancing when I won't have to go home with sore feet," Macy said with a laugh.

On a serious note, she said she and Moses' team of volunteers was the key.

"Without all of them," she said, "none of this would happen."

Plenty happened to put Cause participants in a bit of a time tunnel. Jerry Flodder's cherry red 1964 Corvette Sting Ray parked right inside the door set the tone.

Songs from the troupe included tunes such as "Please Mr. Postman," "Locomotion," "Respect" and "These Boots Are Made for Walkin"."

To remind people of the Laundromat setting of the "Suds" musical, laundry hung from makeshift clotheslines.

"We're going to take you back," said emcee/deejay Aaron Williams, "to the days when good, clean fun actually was good clean fun."