2026 Artrageous Gala

KALEIDOSCOPE:
Infinite Perspectives, Infinite Possibilities
SATURDAY, APRIL 11 at 5:30 PM
FEATURING
- A celebration of this year’s Elizabeth Cochary Gross Stewardship of the Arts honoree Michael J. Bobbitt, former Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council
- TBA live performances on the Main Stage Theater 144 -- stay tuned for updates!
- Seated dinner catered by the fresh, modern talents of MAX Ultimate
- The Umbrella’s annual Artrageous Gala Art Auction & Exhibition - bidding is open!
HERO SPONSORS
Liz and Phill Gross • Matt and Stephanie Magee
CHAMPION SPONSORS
Dennis and Kimberly Burns • Gail and Matt Burr • Charlie and Francie Crowley • Kevin Foley and Leah Flanigan • Carolyn and Reed Holden • Ellen and Bill McHale • Nancy Traversy and Martin Lueck • Shanna Theriault and Scott Smigler
CREATOR SPONSORS
Anonymous • Ellen Gaies and Dan Schrager • Frank Hill and Cynthia First • Erin and Kate Moran • Kaitlyn and Nate Whittier
PARTNER SPONSORS
Robert and Susannah Benner • Casey Carlson and Bill Stone • Greg and Kelly Caiazzo • Gloria and Charles Clough • Wendy and Joe Czarnecki • Chris and Sana Damsgaard • Michael and Barbara Eisenson • Cathy and Fritz Folts • Holly and Greg Legault • Robert and Sarah Le Roy • Hunter and Marisa Nadler • The Nicholson-Will Family • Melanie and Matt O'Hare • Caroline and Jeff Paduch • Jamie and Joel Patterson • Kara and James Potter • Debra Rutter • Jennifer Schannault and Scott Strazik • Steven Stone and Jennifer Swan Stone • Brian and Maryrose Sykes • Taylor and Leigh Tinmouth • Gabrielle and John Wagner
2026 GALA CO-CHAIRS
Gail Burr and Shanna Theriault
GALA AUCTION CO-CHAIRS
Julie Hagan and Ellen McHale
GALA COMMITTEE
Susannah Benner • Suzanne Broxson • Sana Damsgaard • Liz Gross • Kate Moran • Caroline Paduch • Kara Potter • Priscilla White Sturges • Kaitlyn Whittier
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO DONATED TO THE AUCTION
Lois Andersen • Jennifer Anderson • Dorothy “Doffie” Arnold • Louise Berliner • Kate Bird • Bob Birkett • Linda Bond • Gail Burr • Pierre Chiha • Christiane Corcelle • Anne Denna • Annie Downes Catterson • Kathy Edmonston • Meaghan Elyse • Cathy Folts • Monique Fuchs • Jill Goldman-Callahan • Julie Hagan • Mary Ellen Harney • Lonnie Harvey • Suzanne Hill • Ellie Honan • Brandon James • Jennifer Johnston • Cat Johnstone • Peter Judge • Ellen Kelley-McHale • Jordan Kessler • Coco Le Roy • Jean Lightman • Gregory Maguire • Iris Marcus • Nancy Marland • Chris Mekal • Zachary Mickelson • Julia Miner • Andy Newman • Sarah Paino • Carole Parrish • Max Payne • Ilse Plume • Deb Richardson • Carl Ristaino • Jim Roberts • Alice Rosa • Debra Rutter • Jim Sabitus • Sylvia Sawyer • Sinead Sinnott • Howard Sturges • Priscilla Sturges • Charity Tremblay • Mimsey West • Marsha Wilcox • Liz Wilkinson • Barbara Willis • Elliott Yama
THE ELIZABETH COCHARY GROSS STEWARDSHIP OF THE ARTS AWARD
Our 2026 honoree is Michael J. Bobbitt. Transformational arts administrator, passionate artist, playwright, and educator, Bobbitt has meaningfully contributed to a thriving, innovative arts and cultural sector across Massachusetts. As Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council for the last five years, Michael has left an indelible mark on the cultural institutions across our Commonwealth. His longstanding commitment to equity and access and his transformational work reaching across sectors to strengthen the power of the arts inspires us to dream bigger, serve more boldly, and strive for deeper community impact. We are honored to celebrate his tireless efforts on behalf of Massachusetts communities as he takes on his new role leading Opera America in 2026. Read Michael's full bio here.
Photos from the 2025 Gala by Nick Warchol and Umbrella staff





