(RAHWAY, NJ) -- Once again, it is time for the annual gala at the Hamilton Stage. This year will be a Vegas themed night with entertainment, blackjack, craps, roulette, and a Texas hold ‘em tournament on Friday, October 6 at 6:00pm. Drag performer Christopher Peterson will be headlining the event and paying homage to talented female pop singers and artists. H.M’Shell Douché will be supporting the event with performances in honor of famous African-American performers. The gala is a fundraising event held at Hamilton Stage for UCPAC in order to promote and advocate the arts here in Union County.
Celebrating 17 years at La te da Key West, Christopher Peterson’s one man many women show Eyecons shows no sign of slowing down. Christopher was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada and became active in theatre at an early age. This led him to the art of female impersonation. His professional career began in 1984 when he won the first Mr. Alternate of Canada Pageant, a beauty pageant for female impersonators. Christopher developed his one man many women extravaganza entitled Eyecons during a two year stint with the Canadian touring show The Impostors, and in 1996 had three successful runs of the show in Toronto: twice at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, followed by a three week run at the Tarragon Theatre. Eyecons played The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and, in the spring of 1999, toured eastern Canada. The show also received a nomination for a Dora Award for best male in a musical review and best musical review of 96/97. In 2000 the show was also nominated for Best Musical Review from The Palm Desert Theatre Association. He has headlined at the Sands Casino in Atlantic City and MGM Grand and Flamingo Casino in Las Vegas. Peterson also landed a role in the motion picture comedy Rat Race directed by Jerry Zucker and distributed by Paramount. In it, Christopher does a stint as Lucille Ball in the film alongside academy award winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
Eyecons is all live, no lip-sync and audiences will be thrilled with his characterizations of Marilyn Monroe, Carol Channing, Madonna, Joan Rivers, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Tina Turner, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Eartha Kitt, Cher, Bette Davis, and now even Lady Gaga.
A Vegas Casino Night is being hosted at the gala, which will include casino games like blackjack and poker. A Texas hold ‘em tournament will take place and the winner will receive $1,500 in cash and over $1,500 in prizes. The buy-in for the tournament is $300 and all participants must register before the date of the tournament. To sign up for the Texas hold ’em tournament, please visit www.ucpac.org/events.
Tickets for the Hamilton Gala are $60, all-inclusive, which include seats to the performance and access to an open bar and refreshments. For ticket purchases, please visit the Box Office located at 1601 Irving Street in Rahway, NJ. The Box Office can also be reached via email at boxoffice@ucpac.org and phone at 732.499.8226. The Hamilton Stage is located at 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway, NJ and both locations are easily accessible to major roads and public transportation.