On the other side of the mountain, the south side of South Mountain, strong is the cicadas’ song.

Not so much June 19 during the 2021 “Luminosity Gala,” the annual Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF) fund-raiser.

The sound of the cicadas was drowned out, so to speak, by the sound of the rain over the big tent set up on the parking lot outside University Center, DeSales University, Center Valley, Upper Saucon Township.

The Luminosity Gala is believed the first fund-raiser held in-person by a major Lehigh Valley arts nonprofit after the post-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown.

This year, because of COVID-19 protocol, the gala was held outdoors, rather than in the University Center. Space was limited during the planning.

“We could only accommodate 250. That was the limit we set. And we couldn’t change it at the last minute,” Tina Slak, PSF Director of Marketing and Publicity told a reporter for Lehigh Valley Press during a break in the proceedings at the gala.

“This is the first time that we’ve been able to gather with our patrons in 15 months,” PSF Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy said to those in attendance.

“This is an evening of honors, to our Will Shakespeare Award honorees; to Father [Gerard J.] Schubert, our founder, and to life itself,” Mulcahy said.

Typically, 500 attend the gala when it’s presented inside University Center. Nonetheless, the 2021 gala went smoothly, despite several downpours.

The big tent was festooned for the theme of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” July 7 - Aug 1, Air Products Open Air Theatre. Garlands of paper lanterns, flowers, branches and depictions of butterflies decorated tent poles. Table centerpieces were plants amidst a display of moss.

The annual Will Shakespeare Award was presented to Brenda and John McGlade by Atty. Judith A. Harris, PSF Board of Directors President, and Mulcahy.

“I actually think it’s wonderful after 15 to 16 months to be here in person,” said McGlade.

The McGlades, Luminosity Gala Honorary Co-Chairs in 2013, support “Shakespeare for Kids,” Linny Fowler WillPower, the Festival and Luminosity.

Casey Gallagher, PSF Managing Director, and Bill Hoblin, PSF Director of Development, greeted attendees.

Jo-Ann and Chuck Kelly, 2021 Luminosity Gala Honorary Chairs, presented welcoming remarks.

“It illuminates the human experience,” Jo-Ann Kelly said of the naming of the gala, the plays of William Shakespeare and PSF.

The Rev. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS, Vice President for Mission, DeSales University, presented the invocation. Nadolski noted the deaths of PSF patrons Bill Fenza, Sam Saxton and Bill Scharf.

The dinner menu was: appetizer of Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Satay Skewer, Jumbo Lump Crab Avocado Toast, Apple, Candied Walnut and Whipped Brie Phyllo Cup, BBQ Glazed Applewood Smoked Bacon Wrapped Meatball; salad of Greek Orzo Salad Martini with Caprese Kebab and Microgreens; entree of Grilled Filet Mignon with Wild Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Seared Jail Island Salmon with Lemon Caper Florentine Beurre Blanc, Spring Vegetable Bundle, Asiago and Rosemary Potato Galette, and dessert of Greek Orange Honey Cake with Pistachios, Strawberry Chocolate Ganache with Rose Fragments and Egg Tartlet with Fresh Fruit.

Dennis Razze, PSF Associate Artistic Director, and Mulcahy, emceed the live auction.

In addition, purchase of a Luminosity butterfly benefited education and outreach.

Entertainment was provided by Phoenix Best, Greg Wood, Dan Domenech, Alex Bechtel, Matthew Camardo, Zoe Fox and Brett Ashley Robinson. Daniel Espie was accompanist.

“Patrick and I have gotten a lot of requests for ‘Singing in the Rain’ tonight. We’re not going to do it,” joked Razze.

Phoenix Best, a DeSales University graduate who was in the PSF Young Company and who has starred in Broadway shows, sang a beautiful rendition of “On My Own” from “Les Misérables.” Just as she paused after a verse, a fresh downpour was unleashed. The song and others are part of “In Concert with Phoenix Best,” July 12, Air Products Open Air Theatre.

“I’m going to pause a moment ... the moment that Phoenix hit that note and paused and the rain really fell,” said Bechtel before he performed. Bechtel composes music for PSF plays directed by Matt Pfeiffer.

“This water, well, maybe not this water, but that water,” said Greg Wood, reciting and ad-libbing from “An Illiad,” as rain nearly drowned out his words. Wood presents his one-man show of “An Illiad,” July 20-Aug. 1, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts.

“Now that’s a great actor. He calls for water and it rains, “ quipped Razze.

Dan Domenech sang a wonderful version of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” pausing and responding to Espie’s evocative keyboard flourishes.

Domenech, accompanied by Espie, gave a sensitive interpretation of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Domenech received a standing ovation.

The waters were not too troubled. The rain finally subsided. It was a fitting conclusion to Luminosity, a glittering bridge to the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival 30th season.

Information: https://www.pashakespeare.org/

“Good Cause” is a column about galas, benefits and fund-raisers. If you have an item for “Good Cause,” or would like to request for your event to be covered, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com