What began as a gathering of friends in the basement of Perry Morgan’s home over 35 years ago, has evolved into the largest, most lavish, and most talked about event in New Jersey Community Theater – the NJACT Perry Awards Gala.

Hundreds of New Jersey Community Theater’s best and brightest gather with their friends and family for this formal dinner show and awards ceremony to find out who will take home top honors in 34 award categories.

Location and Accommodations
In recent years, the Perry Awards Gala has been hosted at the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Somerset, NJ. This centrally located venue provides first-class amenities, helps to minimize travel time for most attendees, and offers overnight accommodations at special discounted NJACT rates. The Perry Awards Gala is held in the Doubletree’s Grand Ballroom, which accommodates up to 800 guests. Cocktails and hors doeuvres are served in the spacious gathering hall adjoining the ballroom, and guests are welcome to mingle on the garden patio.

Entertainment
The evening is full of entertainment by many of New Jersey Community Theater’s best performers. Each year theater companies nominated for the Outstanding Production of a Musical Award and the Outstanding Choreography Award are invited to strut their stuff. Some of the state’s best community theater vocalists are joined by exciting, dance numbers as guests receive a sampling of the wonderful work that earned nominations. Also, some years, NJACT hosts an after-party at the Doubletree Hotel’s TK lounge, complete with a DJ. While the ceremony may finish before midnight, the partying often continue well into the morning hours.

Food
In addition to hors doeuvres and pasta dishes served during the cocktail hour (cash bar), the Perry Awards Gala features a full gourmet dinner prepared by the staff at the Tuscany Restaurant, one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the area, specializing in Northern Italian cuisine. The dinner menu is put together each year by the NJACT board during a tasting session in which different salads, pastas, entres and desserts are sampled and selected. A vegetarian dish is also made available for NJACT guests.

Ticket Availability
Tickets to the Perry Awards Gala are typically around $65 per person and the event sells out quickly every year. The Doubletree’s Ballroom seats 800, but the NJACT board may choose to limit seating to fewer people to ensure the comfort of its guests and the free movement of the wait staff. Tickets are first come, first served, and must be paid for in advance. Tickets go on sale each year in early August.