Shh: Saratoga Arts spills big secret before surprise-packed gala

Saratoga Arts’ 'Foundation Experience' gala on September 25 promises an anything-can-happen evening of art and intrigue.

A performer from the Foundation Experience’s first year. Photo courtesy of Saratoga Arts.

Art meets excitement at Saratoga Arts’ upcoming Foundation Experience gala, an anything-can-happen, four-parties-in-one soirée where guests at Night Owl won’t know where to look next.

Talk about keeping party-goers on their toes.

“We're pushing the envelope as far as what people come to expect from galas and parties in Saratoga, and the type of performance that they can see here,” says Saratoga Arts’ Spencer Sherry, the mastermind behind this unique event. “Each room will have different music, different food, different drinks and different live performances. It's four parties in one.”

The organization’s Grants and Community Outreach Coordinator of two years says he was inspired by Disney World’s “streetscapes” that use live character actors — and the former off-Broadway play Sleep No More, a beloved and immersive experience where people wandered through a hotel to take in a play at their own pace.

“I want to create that vibe of exploration and mystery, like you're going to Walt Disney as a kid,” he says. “Not everyone is going to have the same experience; you're not going to be able to see everything. You might see something really startling, really fun because you’re in this room at the right time. But out in the courtyard, something else will be going on.”

A performer from the Foundation Experience’s first gala. Photo courtesy of Saratoga Arts.

The party honors Cecilia Frittelli & Richard Lockwood, of Frittelli & Lockwood, founding members of the Beekman Street Arts district and fixtures of the arts in Saratoga Springs.

“They helped to build the art scene here,” Sherry says. “Because Richard is a little bit of a thespian, we decided to do a loosely-inspired Shakespearean vibe and theme throughout. So as we lean into that, each of the spaces in the Night Owl will be loosely environmentally based off of plays or a group of plays, and there will be performances popping up in each of the spaces.”

There will be an open bar courtesy of Night Owl, and a unique custom menu created by the foodie-lovers hotspot Farmacy.

And the big surprise promised up top?