The 500 people who gathered at Santa Fe College Friday and Saturday night for the third annual Stars Night Out benefit were celebrating more than the arts.
The college is in the process of building a new auditorium.
“This is the last time these students will perform in this program on this stage,” said Mike Curry, a member of the Santa Fe College Foundation.
The 17 acts included a pointe dance routine, a monologue and an ensemble by the SFC jazz band.
Cameron Francis, an illusionist, performed a card trick. He said the theme of his act, like the show in its entirety, was embracing the past and looking forward to the future.
Proceeds from ticket sales benefited the fine arts department, according to David Hackett, SFC College Relations spokesman. Tickets ranged from $15 to $25, but entrance was free for SFC students.
Jose Piñeiro, a freshman tenor saxophone player, said the new Fine Arts Hall will be ground-breaking.
“It’s bringing us to a new level,” Piñeiro said.
The new facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2011 and will cost $17.2 million. The amount of money raised by the event was not available at press time.