Fifth Annual "Tea for Two Hundred"

Stephen Sondheim, legendary composer and lyricist, is this year's Honorary Chairman for the 5th annual "Tea for Two Hundred" garden party held to benefit the Northwestern CT AIDS Project and the Interfaith AIDS Ministry of Greater Danbury. The benefit will be held in the award-winning gardens of Mr. Gael Hammer in Washington Depot on Saturday, July 27 from 4-7 p.m., with a rain date of July 28.

Mr. Sondheim, well known for his work on Broadway, has won numerous Tony Awards for Best Score in such plays as Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, and more. He received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1985) for Sunday in the Park with George. A past president of the Council of the Dramatists Guild, he was elected in 1983 to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and in 1993 was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors. It is both an honor and privilege to have his name associated with our local efforts to address the AIDS epidemic.

The Tea will again offer a silent auction featuring a wide variety of fabulous items and opportunities for the guests to purchase. A week's stay in Provence, France; VIP passes to the Wadsworth Atheneum; gift certificates to area restaurants; weekend get-aways; along with numerous garden-related items, plants, books, and prints will be up for bidding.

Guests will be offered their choice of water, wine or the specially made Garden Tea Brew from the Colorado Brewery, along with a wide variety of delicacies, hors d'oeuvres and sandwiches offered by local restaurants. The entertainment this year will feature the folk music of Legacy, a hawk and owl demonstration by the Sharon Audubon Society, and fortune telling by card reader David Epperson. The clown Vanilla Swirl will also provide fun for the children. Once again, white apparel is requested of all guests.

Parking will be available at the Washington Primary School at 11 School Rd., with shuttle vans ferrying guests the mile to Gael's home. This service has greatly enhanced the parking over previous years.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by credit card or check. Credit card ticket purchases can be made by calling NCAP at 860-482-1596, or 800-381-AIDS. Checks can be made payable to either the Northwestern CT AIDS Project (NCAP) or the Interfaith AIDS Ministry and mailed to NCAP, 100 Migeon Ave., Torrington, CT 06790. Confirmation and directions will be mailed with each reservation.