Green Gala brings student crowds

Monica Rosenblatt '17 sings on stage during the Green Gala on April 2 to celebrate Earth Month at Emerson College. (Photo by Nick Eaton '17)

In honor of Earth Month, Emerson hosted the Green Gala on April 2 in the Paramount Center to showcase sustainable food, fashion, and entertainment by numerous student organizations and alumni to highlight the importance of recycling and green living.

Actors David Alan Basche ’90, Leah Remini, and Wayne Knight, who star on TV Land’s The Exes, spoke to the crowd by video about the importance of recycling and sustainability. Emerson President Lee Pelton also addressed the audience.

Alex Gigi '17 sings solo during a performance by the student a cappella group Acappellics Anonymous at the Green Gala. (Photo by Nick Eaton '17)

Jade Zaroff ’17, Olivia Rubbo ’17, and Alex Smith ’17 spent months preparing for the Gala. All the hard work appeared to pay off given the high turnout of Emerson community members at the event.

During the pre-show reception, guests were invited to learn more about being green at “How to Get Involved on Campus” and “How to Get Involved off Campus” information booths, and a fashion booth sold organic T-shirts.

“We even have playbills on 100% recycled paper and reusable batteries for mics,” said Zaroff.

Kelley Downes '17 of the Shakespeare Society performs at the Green Gala. (Photo by Nick Eaton '17)

About 120 performers took the stage to bring together the community through music, dance, comedy, and theatrical performances. Each performance incorporated something about environmental sustainability.

The 120-student cast of performers for the Green Gala on the Mainstage of the Paramount Center. (Photo by Nick Eaton '17)

This Is Pathetic, a student improv comedy group, asked the audience for an Earth-friendly term and used “tree” to start its improv skit. Police Geese, a student comedy group, performed a sketch of a high school spelling bee that had students spell Earth-related words in order to get a point across. The other student groups involved were: Kidding Around, Emerson Dance Company, Emerson Comedy Workshop, Shakespeare Society, The Emerson Poetry Project, Emerson Urban Dance Theatre, Achoired Taste, Treble Makers, Musical Theatre Society, and Acappellics Anonymous.

Eric Van Vlandren, Emerson’s sustainability coordinator, was the staff advisor who assisted the students in organizing the Green Gala.

The comedy troupe This is Pathetic performs at the Green Gala. (Photo by Nick Eaton '17)